Lok Sabha Question No. 4399 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-08
Subject: Cyclone Warning Dissemination Systems
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4399

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 TH  JANUARY, 2019 / PAUSHA 18, 1940 (SAKA) CYCLONE WARNING DISSEMINATION SYSTEMS

4399. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that five Cyclone Warning Dissemination Systems (CWDS) in Kerala are dysfunctional, which adversely  affects  the  State  from  implementing  disaster  management activities under the Disaster Management Act and the National Disaster Management Plan, 2016;
- (b)  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  these  CWDS operational and to establish CWDS in all fishing landing centres in Kerala, as requested by the State Government, in its communication to the Home Secretary on 6.10.2018;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  upgrade  the  Cyclone Warning  Centre  in  Kerala  to  an  Area  Cyclone  Warning  Centre,  as requested  by  the  State  Government  in  its  communication  to  the  Home Secretary on 6.10.2018;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) & (b): India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  has  reported  that  the satellite  based  Cyclone  Warning  Dissemination  Systems  (CWDSs)  have outlived their Technology and non-operational. In collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), 252 No, of analog type CWDSs were installed by  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD) in state governments

## L.S.US.Q NO. 4399 FOR 08.01.2019

along  the  coast  including  Kerala  during  1990s  and  early  years  of  2000s. These  served  their  useful  life  (around  10  years)  and  became  outdated technology and hence are no longer in use at present. It was a one way communication of cyclone warning bulletin from IMD to the coastal places. The  CWDS  was  conceived  and  operationalized  when  no  ground  based communication techniques were available in the country to connect to the coastal areas in case of a cyclone threat.

Further IMD has established communication systems for sending cyclone and  other  severe  warnings  as  per  the  Disaster  Management  Act,  2005 through State Emergency Operation Centres (SEOC) and inturn to districts and designated authorities. Currently all coastal states are establishing / have established last mile connectivity of Early Warning message dissemination systems under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP).

(c) to (e): A Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) has already been established and  is  made  functional  at  the  Meteorological  Centre  at  the  State  head quarter, Thiruvananthapuram with effect from 1st October 2018, so as to strengthen the weather warning system for Kerala, Karnataka & Lakshadweep  and  proximate  areas  of  the  Arabian  Sea.  Before  that  the cyclone  warning  services  for  Kerala  had  been  looked  after  by  the  Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Chennai.

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