UN-SPIDER's Regional Support Office, ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) and its partner Aaranyak-India are developing and testing the establishment of flood early warning systems in selected rivers of the project area. The project aims to enhance community resilience to water-related hazards in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and is part of the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP)
To implement the system, ICIMOD has developed a wireless flood early warning system, which wirelessly transmits flood signals to receivers after which it is communicated manually by mobile phones to the concerned people in downstream communities. Nine prototypes were manufactured and tested at Taudaha Lake, located along the southern fringe of the Kathmandu valley. The equipment was manufactured by Sustainable Eco-Engineering with technical support from ICIMOD. Using similar equipments, a prototype of a community based flood early warning system was installed at ICIMOD Knowledge Park at Godavari in December, which has been tested and modified by a core team of experts from ICIMOD.
The tested system is set to be installed in project sites in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India in May 2013.
