Hyderabad, Sept. 24: The Centre will soon set up a National Cyclone Disaster Management Institute at Visakhapatnam. General N.C. Vij, vice-chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, said here on Wednesday that the state government had offered land for the institute. The institute will integrate technical support for disasters from concerned departments and Central ministries with states, union territories and local authorities. It will also serve as a platform for academics and institutions to coordinate their efforts to offer better disaster management techniques. Gen. Vij, who took part in the release of national guidelines on management of cyclones by the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, also disclosed that four battalions to deal with man-made disaster would be raised. They would be prepared to handle chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear disasters. "Andhra Pradesh too will have a battalion," he added. A national cyclone risk mitigation project costing about Rs 1,600 crore, with assistance from the World Bank, would be taken up in mid-2009. The project covering 13 coastal states and union territories will involve construction of cyclone shelters, shelter belt/mangrove plantations, and establishing last-mile connectivity by improving link roads. "If states are enthusiastic, we can create facilities," said Gen Vij. "The NDMA will provide guidance and finance for good projects. The States should come forward with projects." Dr Reddy assured all support to the NDMA and said that state was geared up to meet natural calamities including cyclones. The cyclone management guidelines include early warning systems, communication and dissemination of data, structural mitigation measures, management of coastal zones, awareness generation and disaster risk management.