'State can cope with calamities'

Minister for Science and Technology Anand Vasanth Asnotikar on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of master control facilities building of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) at Yelahanka.

“With the help of this Centre we will be able to be better prepared and can plan development activities by taking into account the geographical limitations of that region,” said Asnotikar. He said the department has proposed for sanction of an additional Rs 92 crore from the already allotted Rs 16.4 crore, for purchase of equipment. 

The master control facility will monitor calamities like drought, flood, cloudburst, hailstorm, coastal erosion, cyclone, earthquake, landslide, tsunami, groundwater depletion, pest and insect attack, plague, SARS, etc.

Earlier, KSNDMC used to receive delayed information and it would further take more time to collaborate and generate reports and advisories. A study revealed that 40 per cent of the time is spent on searching for information source, 30 per cent on waiting for its arrival and another 30 per cent in comprehending and customising it for specific users.