Sirens to alert people during calamities

Kolkata: The state government is planning to introduce a system of blaring siren (public alarm system) across the state, to alert people during any natural calamity.

Initially, the system will be in place in Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly. The state Disaster Management and Civil Defence department has taken up the initiative and it would also approach the Centre for allotment of funds for the project.

It may be mentioned that sirens were widely used as a public alarm system during the World War II and later again during the Sino-India war in 1962.

Thus, developing infrastructure to control the system of blaring siren from the control room at the state headquarter at any part of Bengal, which shares border with foreign countries, will also be of immense help in case of any "war-like situation".

It may be mentioned that a trial run has already been held in this connection by blaring siren in Bhowanipore area. Now, the state government is planning to implement the project as early as possible, by initiating with three districts that include the state's capital Kolkata.

Sources said that there is a requirement of installing around 50 to 60 sirens to cover the entire area of Kolkata. Moreover, it has to be done in such a way that it doesn't cross the level that leads to sound pollution. Each of the sirens will be covering an area of 1.5 km to 2 km radius in the city and the coverage area would go up in rural parts.

The wireless system will be developed using internet connection and it can be controlled from the control room of the state Disaster Management and Civil Defence department in Nabanna. In case the internet connection goes down during any natural calamity, there will be the provision of satellite connection to keep the entire system operational.

In case an emergency or natural calamity is predicted for a particular area in any part of the state, officials posted at the control room in Nabanna will play an alert message using the system, soon after getting the forecast and the siren will be blared when the calamity is about to hit the area.

It may be mentioned that the state government has paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his 150th birth anniversary by using sirens, early in the morning.