Lok Sabha Question No. 4579 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-08
Subject: Disaster Preparedness of Kerala
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4579

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH  JANUARY, 2019/ PAUSHA 18, 1940 (SAKA) DISASTER PREPAREDNESS OF KERALA

4579. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  received  a  communication from  the  Additional  Chief  Secretary  to  the  Government  of  Kerala  on 6.10.2018,  pointing  out  how  the  inadequacy  of  Automated  Rain  Gauges, absence of  highend  ensemble  nested  models  and  lack  of  meteorologists posted in the State of Kerala, have been hindering the ability of the State Government  to  carry  out Disaster  Management  activities  under the National Disaster Management Plan, 2016;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  steps  have  been  taken  to  address  these  points, especially to increase the number of Automated Rain Gauges in Kerala and to provide high-end ensemble nested models customised for the State;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): Yes  Madam,  in  this  regard,  India  Meteorological  Department

(IMD) has reported that IMD has adequate observational network in Kerala. In  addition  to  11  No.  of  IMD  observatories,  there  are  also  15  Automated

Rain Gauge (ARG) stations for the proper monitoring of rainfall over Kerala.

The list of IMD Observatories and ARG stations in Kerala are given in the Annexure.

With regard to high end ensemble nested models, IMD has reported that an improved  suite  of  prediction  models  has  already  been  implemented operationally at India Meteorological Department (IMD) for enhanced short range weather forecasting through assimilation of all available Indian and global satellite data in real time.

In  addition,  a  high  resolution  (12  km  grid  scale)  state  of  the  art  Global Ensemble  Prediction  System  (EPS)  namely  Global  Ensemble  Forecasting System  (GEFS)  and  unified  model  Ensemble  Prediction  System  (UMEPS) was commissioned on 01 June 2018 for generating operational probabilistic  weather  forecasts  for  10  days.  The  EPS  will  enhance  the weather information being provided by the current models by quantifying the uncertainties in the weather forecasts. The above mentioned forecast systems will be improved further for better accuracy.

There are sufficient scientists posted at IMD offices in Kerala to provide service to the state to meet all emerging requirements.

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## List of IMD Observatories in Kerala

1. ALAPPUZHA
2. CIAL KOCHI
3. KANNUR
4. KARIPUR AP
5. KOCHI AP (NAS Kochi)
6. KOTTAYAM
7. KOZHIKODE
8. PUNALUR
9. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (AIRPORT)
10. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (CITY)
11. VELLANIKKARA

| Stations with ARG in KERALA   |   Stations with ARG in KERALA | Stations with ARG in KERALA   |
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| DISTRICT: CANNUR              |                             1 | CHERUTHAZHAM ARG              |
| DISTRICT: CANNUR              |                             2 | MATTANUR ARG                  |
| DISTRICT: ERNAKULAM           |                             3 | KAKKUNADU ARG                 |
| DISTRICT: IDUKKI              |                             4 | THODUPUZHA ARG                |
| DISTRICT: KOLLAM              |                             5 | ANCHAL ARG                    |
| DISTRICT: KOLLAM              |                             6 | THENMALA ARG                  |
| DISTRICT: KOZHIKODE           |                             7 | THAMARASSERY ARG              |
| DISTRICT: KOZHIKODE           |                             8 | PERUVANNAMUZHI ARG            |
| DISTRICT: PALAKKAD            |                             9 | MEENKARA ARG                  |
| DISTRICT: PATHANAMTHITTA      |                            10 | KURUDAMANNIL ARG              |
| DISTRICT: THIRUVANANTHAURAM   |                            11 | PERINGAMALA ARG               |
|                               |                            12 | PERUMKADAVILA ARG             |
| DISTRICT: THRISSUR            |                            13 | VYNTHALA ARG                  |
| DISTRICT: WYNAD               |                            14 | MEENANGADI ARG                |
|                               |                            15 | POOKOT ARG                    |

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