CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu needs to have at least 12 tsunami inundation models, the United States-based International Tsunami Society vice-president, Tad Murty, said on Monday.

For every important region in the State, a model has to be evolved taking into account the topography of the place.

There has to be different models for places such as Chennai, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam.

The models will cover details such as the maximum probable tsunami height and the extent of inundation likely to be caused by seawater.

"While agencies of the Central Government can carry out tsunami generation and awareness models, the State Government should be involved in the preparation of inundation models," Dr. Murty said at a conference on spatial data infrastructure and its role in disaster management organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) along with the Union Government's Department of Science and Technology, PACON (Pacific Congress on Marine Science and Technology) International University of Hawaii, U.S.

As for tsunami impact on the Sethusamudram ship channel, Dr. Murty suggested that the proposed entrance of the channel in the Bay of Bengal be shifted westward.

He recalled that the Alberni canal of Vancouver Island, Canada, suffered in the tsunami following the 1964 Alaska earthquake.

R.S. Ahluwalia, Deputy Director-General of Integrated Defence Staff, said the Army provided 30 tonnes of medicines and some 16,600 blankets to Pakistan in the last 10 days following the recent earthquake. Compared to Pakistan, the toll in India was less because of the quick and timely relief by the armed forces. Nearly 45 to 50 per cent of the Army's bunkers were damaged.

On the criticism in certain quarters about India's refusal of international aid after the tsunami, he said the offer from the United States Pacific Command, Hawaii, came on January 4. By the time, no aid was required.

S.R. Shetye, Director of the National Institute of Oceanography, said his organisation had invited proposals from universities and academic organisations for the implementation of science plan for coastal hazard preparedness, a project to be implemented through the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. S. Sridharan, Deputy Director-General, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said the radar network in Chennai was recently upgraded.

S. Kathiroli, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology, said as part of the tsunami warning system, 20 to 25 tide gauges would be installed by December.

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