Environment Ministry panel to assess tsunami type risks

The disaster in Japan has jolted the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) into action.

On Thursday, it announced measures to strengthen preparedness for tackling tsunami like disasters in the country's coastal areas.

It has set up a four-member expert group to assess the risks for coastal areas. In addition, the Ministry has asked Four Expert Appraisal Committees (EAC) relating to industry, infrastructure, thermal power and nuclear power to deliberate on tsunami-related risks and to examine how they can be included in the Terms of Reference for EIA for future projects.

These measures have been announced to address the increasing public concern on the safety of critical infrastructure projects located in the coastal areas in the country, for instance, power plants, oil storage depots and refineries, MoEF said in a statement.

The expert group under the chairmanship of Mr A.M. Muthunayagam, former Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, will review the existing systems for assessing tsunami-type risks while taking Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of development projects in the coastal areas.

The expert group will evaluate what additional safeguards are needed for existing projects in the coastal areas and suggest measures to be taken for EIA for projects to come up in the future. It will submit the report within four months.

The Ministry further said the hazard line mapping exercise being done by Survey of India assumes special importance in view of the tsunami-type tragedies. This will be completed in the next 24 months.

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