KOLHAPUR: A ham radio, also known as amateur radio, has been set up at the Kolhapur district disaster management cell for effective communication in flood-prone areas during monsoon.
The system uses radio frequency for exchange of messages and has been set up with funding from America-based Institute Of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
Authorities have said that the project has been set up through a public-private partnership — a first in the country. Nitin Ainapure and few other private ham radio operators from Kolhapur had helped the district disaster team to help send wireless messages for effective rescue, relief and aid of the flood-affected people in Kolhapur district during the 2019 and 2021 floods.
District disaster management officer Prasad Sankpal had put forth the idea to give the wireless communication management system a concrete structure. Following this Rs 4 lakh was received through Pune-based All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society’s Engineering College — run by Malojiraje Chhatrapati.
Ainapure, while speaking to TOI, said, “During floods in the district, we had helped the on-ground personnel navigate inflatable boats safely through flooded areas with the help of ham radio systems. We had operated the ham radio using car battery for four weeks. So, the system has already been put to use in the district and the new project is a concrete form of it.”
