The State Telecom Disaster Coordination Committee (STDCC), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Gujarat, convened a meeting today to review and strengthen the preparedness of the telecom sector for disaster management in the Gujarat LSA.

The meeting, chaired by Sh. Girish Kataria, ITS, Head of STDCC and DDG (Technology), DoT Gujarat, brought together key stakeholders including the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) & all the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) operating in the state.

 

The committee conducted a comprehensive review of the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for pre-disaster mitigation and post-disaster restoration of telecom services.

Emphasis was laid on ensuring the dissemination of early warnings through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). The committee reinforced the need for seamless infrastructure sharing and interoperability among service providers during emergencies to ensure a network-agnostic response. Thrust was given to strengthen the resilience of telecom network by improving the redundancy in the form of Cell on Wheels, spare power supply sources etc.

In a significant move to explore multiple media of communication during disasters, DoT Gujarat LSA, in collaboration with the Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio, organized a special session on HAM Radio in Disaster Management for all stakeholders of the STDCC. The session highlighted the critical role of amateur radio as an independent and reliable communication channel when conventional networks fail during large-scale calamities.

Discussions were held to further integrate telecom response plans with the state's overall disaster management framework to ensure seamless coordination with the NDRF and district administrations.

Speaking on the meeting, the Head of STDCC, DoT Gujarat Sh. Girish Kataria, ITS, stated:

"Telecom is the lifeline of disaster management. Today's meeting was a critical drill to ensure that when a disaster strikes, our response is swift, unified, and effective. All stakeholders are committed to ensuring a resilient telecom network for the people of Gujarat LSA."

The meeting concluded with a collective resolve to conduct regular mock drills and ensure that all critical infrastructure is fortified to withstand natural calamities.

The Department of Telecommunications, Gujarat, remains committed to its mission of minimizing the impact of disasters on life and property through prompt and reliable telecommunication support.

SM/IJ/GP

સોશિયલ મીડિયા પર અમને ફોલો કરો :  @PIBAhmedabad    /pibahmedabad1964    /pibahmedabad  pibahmedabad1964[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2230064) Visitor Counter : 107