The Hindu Business Line : Advanced radar network in the offing

THE Centre is firming up plans to put in place an advanced radar network, which will equip the country to go beyond cyclone warning alone, the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, said here.

Currently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Department of Space (DoS) have the capability to predict any cyclone that could hit the country at least 48 hours in advance. "We are discussing the role of advance radars to ensure better disaster management and prevention," Prof. Ramamurthy said in his address to the four-day international symposium on `Natural hazards (INTROMET-2004)', here today.

The IMD is already in the process of setting up a network of Doppler Weather Radars (DWR), which considerably boost the cyclone warning system. While to systems, each costing about Rs 15 crore have been set up in Kolkata and Chennai, two cost effective one's being developed by the IMD and the DoS jointly are to be installed in Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Prof. Ramamurthy said disaster mitigation needed the participation of multiple stakeholders involved. With such a large clientele, different strategies need to be devised to ensure minimal damage. The DST was focussed on better preparedness from earthquakes, cyclones, storm surges, landslides and other natural disasters.

In his keynote address, read out in absentia by the Director, National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Dr Navalgund, the Secretary, Department of Space, Dr Madhavan Nair, said to improve forecast capabilities, the Department has planned advanced missions with unique sensing capabilities. The INSAT 3D to be launched in the later part of 2005 would have advanced sensors such as 19 channel atmospheric sounders and 6 channel imager which would enhance weather studies.

Dr Nair said the satellite-based emergency communication warning dissemination system with about 250 cyclone warning receivers operating in the east and west coasts have been effective in reaching warning to the affected areas in a timely manner.

The Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Mohan Kanda, said: "We need to evolve demand driven, user oriented information to help people, especially through a combination of IT, agriculture and meteorology, to ensure benefits and disaster mitigation."

The IMS honoured Dr P.K. Das, a former Director-General of the IMD with the Dr Gilbert Walker Oration Award and Dr T.V. Bhaskar Rao of the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam with the B.N. Desai Award.

The symposium will discuss cyclones, marine hazards, aviation hazards, disaster mitigation and management, role of planners, industries, economic and societal impact, community participation and role of non-Government organisations.

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