(a) whether there is any proposal to locate more `disaster warning centres` in the
country in view of the fast changes in Gepclimate conditions throughout the
globe, more so in coastal parts of our country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, location-wise;
(c) whether there is any possibility to get external assistance technically and
materially; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) to (d) The Department of Ocean Development is setting up, without any external assistance,
an Early Warning System for Tsunami and Storm Surges in the Indian Ocean Region which is
scheduled to be operational by September, 2007. A centre would be set up at Indian National
Centre for Ocean Information services(INCOIS), Hyderabad on a 24x7 basis. The system will
cater to complete Indian Ocean region and there is no need for more stations.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a Cyclone Monitoring and Mitigation Group to
specifically look at the (i) mechanism for tracking and monitoring the cyclonic systems, (ii)
warning protocols for cyclones, (iii) coordination mechanism between different Central and
State Ministries/Department/Organizations, (iv) suitable mechanism for providing warning in
respect of local eye Ionic/weather systems,(v) mechanism for timely dissemination of
warnings to the local people and (vi) cyclone mitigation measures required for the coastal
states. The Ministry of Home Affairs is also (in the process of) formulating /finalizing some
initiatives/projects to specifically address the coastal hazards and vulnerabilities
especially in the light of experiences of disaster events in the past few years.