The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tsunami warning system by September 2007

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tsunami warning system by September 2007

Special Correspondent

It will operate from Centre for Ocean Information Services in Hyderabad

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan issuing participation certificate to a foreign delegate at a conference in Chennai on Sunday. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: : Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan on Sunday said a tsunami warning system would be installed by September 2007 at an estimated cost of Rs.125 crores.

Addressing an international conference on tsunami, disaster management and coastal development here, she said the Government planned to establish the system as a dedicated 24 x 7 tsunami warning centre at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, an autonomous institution under the Department of Ocean Development.

Though the probabilities of tsunami-inducing earthquakes in the Indian Ocean region were low, the December 26, 2004 disaster made the country recognise the need for a comprehensive oceanic disaster forecasting and mitigation system in the region.

She commended non-governmental organisations and voluntary agencies for extending relief to tsunami victims. Appreciating the State Governments for their response to the disaster, she said the Andaman and Nicobar administration played a remarkable role in carrying out rehabilitation measures despite logistical problems.

P.M.A. Hakeem, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, said laws relating to protection of environment and coastal zone regulation should be complied with in letter and spirit. To implement relief and rehabilitation measures successfully, there should be a permanent mechanism to coordinate the activities of NGOs and government agencies.

D. Srinivas, Minister for Rural Development, Andhra Pradesh, stressed the need for involving women self-help groups in rehabilitation measures following the successful experiment in his State during the post-tsunami period. The administration, NGOs and scientists should make efforts to evolve a consensus to minimise the damage caused by natural disasters. Eco-systems in the coastal and other regions should not be disturbed.

Ms. Jagadeesan distributed participation certificates to foreign delegates. The conference recommended that the Government declare the December 26 tsunami a national disaster, create a ministry for disaster management and carry out a hazard line mapping along the coastal stretch.

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

Tamil Nadu