Pune, Oct: The computer-based satellite-communication network, NICNET, of the National Informatics Centre is being extensively used for relief work co-ordination in the earthquake affected Districts of Sholapur, Latur and Osmanabad in Maharashtra. A killer earthquake, measuring about 6.4 in the Richter Scale, struck all the villages of these Districts in the early hours of September 30, 1993, causing heavy damage to life and property.
In the wake of the earthquake, as the Government of Maharashtra and several voluntary organizations embarked on a massive relief and rehabilitation programme, the immediate need was to establish communication links between the different nodes of the Administration. NICNET was extensively used to establish communication links with all senior officials in the Mantralaya up to the level of the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister, and to contact the District Collectors for proper organization of the relief work. NICNET Centres in the affected Districts and in the Mantralaya and other locations in the State were put on full alert and operated round the clock. Message communication was established immediately between the affected Districts and the Mantralaya.
The overall relief co-ordination through NICNET was carried out from the District of Sholapur. A communication centre was established by the Government at the centrally located Omerga Taluk in Sholapur. The National Informatics Centre pressed into service a mobile earth station (a truck fitted with a micro earth station set and a diesel generator power pack) to establish on-the-spot communication links with the Mantralaya and other nearby districts. Computing facilities, powered by an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) system were also set up in a nearby rest house. Backup computer and communication equipments along with additional technical manpower were also rushed in from the Western Regional Centre of NIC to the affected District Centres.
These measures made it possible for the Mantralaya to keep in touch with all senior Officials who were co-ordinating various relief operations and also to cater to the urgent requests for help from the affected Districts.
Considering the massive quantity and variety of relief and rehabilitation-related material pouring in, it is proposed to provide information processing services to all the Collectorates concerned.