MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF
OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) to (d) Yes Sir, The Government is aware that the percentage of false alarms from Pacific
Tsunami Warning Centre is about 70%, such an uncertainty is not acceptable for India.
(e) & (f) No Sir. While the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) could provide the Indian
Ocean countries with (a) earthquake information, epicenter, magnitude, (b) a general statement
about the potential for Tsunami generation and (c) estimated arrival times of initial wave, it
is quite clear that it cannot provide (a ) confirmation that Tsunami actually exists,
(b) forecast of Tsunami strength and (c) warning cancellation.
(g) & (h) Yes Sir, the Government is setting up an Early Warning System for Tsunami and Storm
Surges in the Indian Ocean Region with the following components :
# installation of tsunami warning sensors close to the ocean bottom at appropriate locales in
the Indian Ocean, with real time connectivity;
# Tide gauge and data buoys networking to validate arrival of tsunami waves at the coast;
# strengthening of the existing seismological network to indicate, near real time occurrence
of tsunamigenic earthquakes;
# Modelling of the inundation scenarios for the entire coast and mapping of potential risk
areas;
# collection of information, analysis and generating status advisories.
The warning system is scheduled to be operational by September, 2007. A centre would be set up
at Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad on a 24x7 basis.
