Andhra Pradesh State Development Planning Society (APSDPS) CEO Sanjay Gupta inaugurated an Atmospheric Research Division (ARD) at the headquarters of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) at Kunchanapalli near Vijayawada on Wednesday.
Mr. Gupta said the new facilities would enable SDMA in predicting weather patterns with greater accuracy and thereby contribute to mitigating the impact of calamities.
SDMA Commissioner M.V. Seshagiri Babu said SDMA was already issuing warnings on temperatures and cyclones in advance and that ARD would help in making the shortest possible weather forecasts.
National Institute of Disaster Management Joint Director R.K. Singh said a permanent training centre was being set up in 10 acres at Kondapavuluru in Krishna district to impart the skills required to meet contingencies.
Later, the officials of SDMA and K.L. University (KLU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration in the activities of SDMA. SDMA Executive Director K. Siva Sankar and KLU Registrar T. Umamaheswara Rao inked the pact in the presence of Chancellor M. Ramamoorty, Vice-Chancellor L.S.S. Reddy and others.
