The state government has set the ball rolling for setting up a temporary amteur radio station at Mousuni Island under Namkhana block in South 24-Parganas considering its vulnerability to frequent cyclonic weather conditions as well as major natural disasters.

The district administration with the assistance of ham radio enthusiasts are using a trial and error method for identification of the areas where there is availability of good signal and the area having the best of signal will have such a radio station.

“We are already getting satisfactory results in this signal aspect and we are hopeful that we will be able to soon identify the most suitable place and set up a temporary station. Once we have done this, we will gradually proceed to set up a permanent one,” Rupam Dutta, Block Disaster Management Officer, Namkhana said.

The state Disaster Management department joined hands with the West Bengal Radio Club and Indian Academy of Communication and Disaster Management and hosted a two-day demonstration regarding setting up of radio station, placing of the antenna for proper communication, using digital uhf radio and so on.

As many as 45 civil defence volunteers of South and North 24-Parganas district have already received ham radio licences and permanent ham radio stations have already come up in Gangasagar and Gosaba.