GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No.296
TO BE ANSWERED ON 2-3-2005

NATURAL CALAMITIES WARNING CENTRES

296. SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE;

SHRI RUPCHAND MURMU;

SHRI GIRIDHAR GAMANG.

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

whether the Government proposes to set up Natural Calamities Warning Centres like earthquake and cyclone warning centers;

if so, the places identified therefore;

whether the Government had proposed to set up Cyclone Warning Centre at Konark in Orissa after the super cyclone in 1999;

if so, the latest position of the project;

whether the multi-warning center is going to be set up in Orissa coast after the Tsunami devastation; and

if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT

( SHRI KAPIL SIBAL )

(a) Cyclone warnings are being issued by India Meteorological Department from its already existing cyclone warning centers at Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatanam, Chennai, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. There is no technique available at present for the prediction of earthquakes world-wide. However, there are earthquake monitoring stations spread all over the country which collect information about the occurrence of earthquakes. This information is passed on to concerned authorities engaged in disaster management.

(b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.

(c) The Cyclone Warning Centre at Bhubaneshwar caters to the needs of cyclone warning for Orissa. There is no plan to set up another Cyclone Warning Centre at Konark.

(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.

(e) & (f) The proposal to set up an early warning system for Tsunami is under consideration of the Government. This system will cover the entire Indian coastal areas including Orissa.