VISAKHAPATNAM: Software giant IBM has come forward to assist the district administration to attend post- cyclone and other natural calamity situations. After Hudhud last year, district collector N Yuvaraj had requested IBM to help the district by providing an alternative information system. Responding to the request, the company has agreed to develop an exclusive software for serving the same.
As a part of its corporate social responsibility agenda, the IBM has selected 16 natural calamity-prone cities, including Visakhapatnam, to extend its assistance.
A three-member team led by Head of CSR activities, IBM India, Mamatha Sarma, arrived here and held a review meeting Wednesday.
Additional joint collector D Venkata Reddy explained the prevailing scenario post- Hudhud in Visakhapatnam.
The AJC elaborated on the district profile, available resources and history of disasters faced by the district, to the IBM team.
The officials of GVMC, Public Health, EPDCL, Fisheries, Agriculture, Horticulture departments also took part in the meeting and explained the roles played by them in restoring normlacy. Later, addressing the officials, Mamatha Sarma said, “We have decided to provide disaster management services to various Smart Cities like Visakhapatnam, Surat and Ahmedabad.”
The software, being developed by the IBM, would be handed over to the district administration in September. It will contain a proper action plan, which would equip the city to face natural calamities and help manage its aftermath as well, said Mamatha Sarma. “International experts would be visiting Visakhapatnam and a study report would be prepared, according to which a software would be developed and would be handed over to the district administration,” Mamatha added