THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)
(a) The weather pattern is normal. However some abnormal weather patterns such as drought, flood, cyclone, heat and cold waves etc do occur.
(b) Yes Madam.
(c) Using the all available data Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) prepared list of 252 districts covering states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, West Bengal, Pondicherry, Daman & Diu and Tamil Nadu and identified them as vulnerable to multi-hazard (Wind, Thunderstorm, Cyclone, Flood and Earthquake). The details of various districts are presented in Annexure-I.
(d-e) 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 three tier structure.
In order to provide early warning of severe weather events, IMD has setup a network of state meteorological centres to have better coordination with a state and other agencies. IMD simultaneously shares its forecast and warning with respective national/state/district level Disaster Management Authorities to take remedial action.
IMD is providing specific nowcasting weather service across the country. This service activity currently covers 156 urban centres under which nowcast of severe weather (Thunderstorms; heavy rainfall from lows/depressions over the land) in 3-6h range is issued.
The weather information (Maximum, Minimum temperatures, Rainfall and Sky condition, etc.) and forecast for next 7 days for 310 important cities and towns in all the states and union territories of India issued by the IMD and are made available on the National and Regional websites of IMD. IMD, in coordination with State Governments, is generating forecasts for major pilgrimages such as Amarnath Yatra, Mansarovar Yatra, Chardham Yatra, Kumbhmela,etc. and also various mountaineering expeditions launched by the Armed Forces for Mount Everest and several other Himalayan mountains.
The Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS ) of IMD has been successful in providing the crop specific advisories to the farmers at the district level twice weekly through different print/visual/Radio/ IT based wider dissemination media including short message service (SMS) and Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS). Agrometeorological Advisories are sent to 11.50 million farmers currently across the country through SMS that contains abrupt changes if any, in weather and its impact on crops.
IMD also provides Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) up to 72 h at sub-basin scale through Flood Meteorological Offices (FMOs). FMOs provide meteorological support to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for issuing flood warnings in respect of the 43 rivers of India covering 137 subbasins. CWC issues flood forecasts 6 h to 30 h in advance for 176 stations using QPF received from FMOs of IMD and in-situ hydro-meteorological data.
IMD issues heat wave alerts and warnings on every five days which will be valid for next 15 days during the Hot Weather Season (April-June). The forecasts will be made available through IMD, Delhi website (www.imd.gov.in) and simultaneously shared with respective national/state/district level Disaster Management Authorities. Advisories include precautionary measures to avoid heat stroke include – drinking plenty of water; avoiding going out in open heat during 10AM-4PM; wearing light colored clothes; covering head/using umbrella while going out; monitoring symptoms of heat stroke etc. Based on such warnings, the respective authorities have been urging people to stay indoors during the mid-day along with health advisories to stay hydrated (to drink lot of water) so as to avoid heat strokes/illness.
Upon prediction of heat wave conditions by the IMD, various state governments have a system of giving wide publicity of Dos and Don’ts through advertisements in TV channels, News Papers and opening drinking water camps at identified places in rural and urban areas to mitigate the impact of heat waves. The schedule of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers is adjusted to avoid exposure to extreme hot weather duration periods.
National Center for Seismology (NCS) is monitoring earthquake activity in and around the county round the clock through its national seismological network. There is no proven scientific technique worldwide exists so far to predict/forecast the occurrence of earthquakes with reasonable degree of accuracy in space, time and magnitude.
Monitoring of the seasonal (monthly / weekly rainfall scenario with reference to respective normal (mean value) is only carried out by IMD to regularly assess and identify zones of deficit rainfall leading to drought conditions, the declaration of which remains with the mandate of Ministry of Agriculture in consultation with various state governments.
The Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS) provides tsunami advisories to the Disaster Management Officers (DMO) at various administrative levels and other stake holders through various modes of communication like Email, Fax, SMS and website.
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