The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Installation of ocean observing radars suggested

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 04, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Installation of ocean observing radars suggested

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI, MARCH 3 . Information on the location of `spreading centres' and `subduction zones' specific to Indian continent, brought in by the Science of Plate Tectonics, should be followed up by close monitoring of such sites, Dr. Nair, the Deputy Director- General of Geological Survey of India (GSI), Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Pondicherry, said recently.

Spreading centres were located along the Carlsburg Ridge in the Arabian Sea and the subduction zone along the Java Trench below the Indian Ocean bordering Indonesia, Andaman and Nicobar islands, Arakan Yoma and further North and North-West, Dr. Nair said.

He was delivering the key note address titled, `Tsunami Mitigation Measures', at a two-day brain-storming session on the topic, organised by the Centre for Remote Sensing, Bharathidasan University, in association with the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Referring to the `collaborative early warning system of possible Tsunami waves' adopted by Pacific Ocean littoral countries, using the concept of monitoring changes in wave pressure on the surface and bottom of the ocean, Dr. Nair suggested that installation of ocean observing radars to monitor the roughness of sea could be considered as a warning system in India. He informed that even the regions bordering the Bhuj on the Western part of India was prone to Tsunami related calamities. Natural barricades such as stabilised dunal complexes, sedimentary platforms, mangrove vegetation, and linear stretches of casuarina and coconut plantation should be developed to minimise Tsunami damages.

Artificial measures can be in the forms of construction of sea dykes, construction of high relief sea walls, and a seismic designing by putting up diagonal structures perpendicular to the wave line. Establishment of Tsunami warning system along the coast, and setting up of evacuation shelters similar to cyclone shelters could also be thought of. Also, the Coastal Regulation Act of the Government of India should be strictly enforced to prevent constructions in areas within 500 metres from sea.

Inaugurating the session, the Vice-Chancellor, C. Thangamuthu, suggested that fishermen take to other occupation against the background of the fact that per capita catch per day has reduced from 2.5 kg in the seventies to half of it today. Also the presence of mechanised boats would further impact their continuance in the occupation.

While E. Ramasamy, Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, felt NCC and NSS volunteers should be well-trained to manage and render timely help during disasters, T. Dhanapal, its Principal Scientific Officer, said the brainstorming session should crystallise into an Action Plan, for the Governments.

SM. Ramasamy, Professor and Head, Centre for Remote Sensing, Bharathidasan University, and C.J. Kumanan, Lecturer, spoke.

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