Tamil Nadu - Vellore   

`U.N. should help small countries install tsunami-warning systems'

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE, JAN. 23. The United Nations should help the small and developing countries such as Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia to install tsunami-warning systems, P. Rajamanickam, state president of the Tamil Nadu Science Forum (TNSF) has said.

Presiding over a seminar on `Disaster Management' organised jointly by the TNSF and the Dhanabagyam Krishnaswamy Mudaliar College for Women here on Saturday, Prof. Rajamanickam said that it would cost approximately $ 200 million for the small and developing tsunami-prone countries to install the system. India would need about $ five lakh to install two `tsunometers' in the Indian Ocean to pick up the warning signals.

Smaller countries such as the Maldives would not be able to install the system, and the U.N. should help them install the systems and also help to develop an integrated warning system for all the ocean-facing countries in the world. When tsunamis struck developing countries such as the U.S. and Japan, the loss of lives was minimal because of the effective warning system there. Only the poor countries suffered because of the lack of a warning system. "An investment on a tsunami warning system is an investment for the future", he said.

Awareness programmes

Prof. Rajamanickam said that the TNSF proposed to undertake tsunami awareness programmes and educate people on how to escape from a tsunami. The Rs. 3 lakhs that it hoped to make through the sale of books on tsunami would be utilised for the purpose. He said that even school students should be educated on the tsunami. Stressing the need for immediate rehabilitation of the fishermen affected by the tsunami, he said that houses should be built for them at least 500 metres away from the sea.

Stringent regulations

D. Maninathan, secretary, DKM College for Women, wanted the Government to enforce stringent regulations against those building hotels and sea resorts close to the sea. While the Central Government wanted hotels and resorts to be built at least 1200 metres away from the sea, they agreed to reduce the distance to 500 metres, but following negotiations, it was further reduced to 200 metres. Mangroves forests and coconut trees should be grown along the coast.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

`U.N. should help small countries install tsunami-warning systems'

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu