(a) whether there has been a suggestion with the Government that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) should have better coordination with States to give timely warning of calamities such as floods
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard so far?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)
(a-b) Earth System Science Organization (ESSO)-India Meteorological Department (IMD) is responsible for monitoring, detection and forecasting of weather including severe weather events such as cyclones, heavy rainfall, extreme temperature etc. It provides forecast of these events at national, regional and state levels through its tree tier structure. In order to provide early warning of severe weather events, ESSO-IMD has setup a network of state meteorological centres to have better coordination with a state and other agencies. Presently state meteorological centres are functioning at state capital centres.
In order to meet specific requirements of flood forecasting which is provided by central water commission, ESSO-IMD operates Flood Meteorological Offices (FMOs) at ten locations viz., Agra, Ahmedabad, Asansol, Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jalpaiguri, Lucknow, New Delhi and Patna. During the flood season, FMOs provide valuable meteorological support to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for issuing flood warnings in respect of the 43 rivers of India: i)Agra -Lower Yamuna and Betwa; ii)Ahmedabad -Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, Sabarmati, Banas and Deman Ganga; iii)Asansol -Ajay, Mayurakshi and Kangsabati; iv)Bhubaneshwar -Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baiterini, Bruhaba -lang, Subernarekha, Rushkulya and Vansdhara; v)Guwahati -Brahmaputra and Barak; vi)Hyderabad -Godawari and Krishna; vii)Jalpaiguri –Teesta; viii)Lucknow - Ganga, Ramganga, Gomti, Sai, Rapti Ghagra and Samda; ix)New Delhi -Upper Yamuna, Lower Yamuna, Sahibi; x)Patna -Kosi, Mahananda, Baghmati, Kamla, Gandak, Buri Gandak, North Koel, Kanhar, PunPun and Upper Sone.
Central Water Commission (CWC) is working in close association with IMD and State Governments for timely flood forecast whenever the river water level rises above warning level. To meet the requirement of State Governments, ESSO-IMD Officers invariably attend all the meeting called by the State Governments for reviewing the preparedness on floods by various agencies.
(c) ESSO-IMD has existing mechanism to coordinate with various state authorities. As such ESSO-IMD provide inputs to State Crop Weather Watch Group, State Disaster Management Authorities , Relief Commissioners. During cyclones a coordination mechanism with district authorities has also been established. Round the clock weather surveillance and forecasting system is operational at ESSO-IMD for continued monitoring, detection and warning of Cyclones; river basin scale meteorological support (monitoring and warning) for CWCs river flood warning system and other severe weather systems. Operational forewarning systems are already in place by the Central Water Commission of the Ministry of the Water Resources for river basin scale flood. Fully organized protocol exists between ESSO-IMD,CWC and with the various designated disaster management authorities at centre and state levels for dissemination of weather forecast warning alerts and such existing dissemination protocol is always duly complied with.