UNESCO tags “Tsunami Ready “ to Venkatraipur and Noliasahi : Two Odisha Villages

United Nations Educational system & Cultural Organisation grants 2 Odisha villages with the “Tsunami Ready” tag. India becomes the first country to implement ‘Tsunami Ready ‘ in the Indian Ocean region. Tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sense surges of water waves, majorly caused by large, undersea earthquakes at tectonic plate boundaries. It majorly occurs along the pacific oceans, “ring of fire “. Which is prone to earthquakes, flood and tsunamis.

Odisha becomes the first state with two villages which are granted with this tag , Venkatraipur in Ganjam District and Noliasahi in Jagatsingpur district . The UNESCO-INTER-GOVERNMENT OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (IOC) ‘s had held a virual event organised by the council which had provided certificate of recognition and certificate of appreciation awards to the two districts .

The IOC was established in a resolution and was adopted by general conference of UNESCO. The first meeting by this commission was held path e UNESCO head quarters in 1961. This commission had initially started with 40 states and now it has 147 states participation . It is an only commission under UNESCO which assists the government to take collective oceans and coastal management . During Tsunami the coastal regions near the Indian oceans are much more prone towards its effect . It regulates the needs through sharing informations, knowledge and technology through co-ordination of programs and building capacity in ocean and coastal research , observations and its services .

The Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready Programme of IOC-UNESCO is a community based program which aims to improve the coastal community preparedness for tsunami emerges and to minimise the loss of life and property .

In 1999, Odisha was struck with the super cyclone and it had claimed 10,000 lives so the government had setup Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) which further controlled and managed the lives being hampered . Under this commission the tsunami ready plan was implemented .

Criteria for the recognition :

• 11 points indicators to claim to be tsunami ready like :

• community tsunami risk reduction plan, designated and mapped tsunami hazard zones .

• public display of tsunami information , easily understood tsunami evacuation maps

• outreach and public education materials

• three outreach or educational activities annually,

• conduct an annual tsunami community exercise

• dress tsunami hazards in the community’s emergency operations plan

• supporting the emergency operations centre during a tsunami

• reliable means for a 24-hour warning point to receive officials tsunami threats

• issue round clock tsunami alerts to the public .

Future plans of Odisha : by Chief Secretary P K Jena -

1. it will make Odisha a role model for tsunami preparedness

2. this award has motivated the state to make 327 villages and urban local bodies tsunami ready in one year’s time .