|
A two-day Brain Storming Session on the Great Tsunami of December 26, 2004 begins in New Delhi tomorrow with a view to work out a comprehensive action plan for establishing a Tsunami Warning System relevant to the Indian context. To be inaugurated by the Minister for Science & Technology and Ocean Development Shri Kapil Sibal, the Session will evaluate the available know how and infrastructure in the country and the setting up of a new infrastructure to tone up our warning capabilities, thereby, helping to mitigate the loss of life and property. The Session will also discuss possibilities of collaborations with international groups having the necessary experience in Tsunami detection and warning. About 60 Indian participants from various institutions in the country and 12 experts from abroad including countries like the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Russia and international institutions such as UNESCO have been invited to take part in the deliberations.
It may be recalled that following the earthquake on December 26, 2004 off the western coast of Sumatra and the ensuing tsunami which caused heavy loss of life and property in the country, the Department of Science and Technology has been re-evaluating the threat perspective arising out of these natural disasters. While the country has a fairly broad coverage of the earthquake monitoring system to detect earthquakes taking place in and around the country, it does not have an effective Tsunami detection system. The Department of Science and Technology alongwith the Department of Ocean Development, the Department of Space, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other R&D institutions and scientific groups have been examining the feasibility of a Tsunami detection and warning disseminating system for the Indian ocean.
….
SK/SB
|
