Lok Sabha Question No. 3261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Disaster Prone Districts
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3261 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 23RD MARCH, ,022

## DISASTER PRONE DISTRICTS

## 3261. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- whether the Government has the details of services that a meteoro ogist an provide to a district administration in disaster prone regions; (a)
- if so, furnish details thereof; (b)
- whether the Government proposes to appoint a meteorologist Wjth enlugh supporting infrastructure for disaster prone districts in the country; (c)
- if so, the details thereof; (d)
- whether the Government also proposes to appoint a meteorologistigeolo~ist for assisting the district administration in highly landslide prone regions like IdUIi; anti (e)
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? (f)

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHAR E) FO MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. nTENDRA SINGH)

- (a)-(b) India Meteorological Department (IMD) has a three-tier structure of forfcasting services with National Weather Forecasting Centre NWFC) at the Head uarterf at New Delhi, Regional Weather Forecasting Centres (RWFC) at six Regional ~eteorflogical Centres situated at New Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolkata, Guwahati afd C~ennai and State Weather Forecasting Centres (SWFC) at the State Meteorological Centres situated at the State Capitals.

IMD follows a seamless forecasting strategy. The long-range f9recast~ (for the whole season) issued are being followed with extended range forecast issfued09 every Thursday with a validity period of four weeks. To follow up the extended ran e forfast' IMD issues short to medium range forecast and warnings daily valid up to ext fi e days with an outlook for subsequent two days. The short to medium range fbrecas and warning at district and station level are issued by state level Meteorological dentres (MCs)lRegional Meteorological Centres (RMCs) with a validity of next five days ~nd ar~ updated twice a day. The short to medium range forecast is followed by very short range :fforecast of severe weather up to three hours (nowcast) for all the districts and 1089 cities dnd towns. These nowcasts are updated every three hours. 1

IMD has implemented Impact Based Forecast (IBF) which gi I e deteils of what the weather will do along with what the weather will be. It contains the ~etails of impacts expected from the severe weather elements and guidelines to genetr,l PUb~iC about do's and don'ts while getting exposed to severe weather. These guid~lines are finalised in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority OfDMA and is already implemented successfully for cyclone, heat wave, thunderstorm and heavy rainfall. Work is in progress to implement the same for other severe weather elembnts.

While issuing the warning suitable colour code is used to bring Ott the impact of the severe weather expected and to signal the Disaster Management abou the ciurse of action to be taken with respect to impending disaster weather event. Green color orresponds to no warning hence no action is needed, yellow color corresponds to be watchful and get updated information, orange color to be alert and be prepared to ta actiln whereas red color signals to take action.

The district level forecast and warning for five days and every three hour I owcast for all the districts are issued by a Meteorologist. In addition,

- Location specific nowcast, city forecast, current weather 0, serva ions and daily rainfall data are being provided to district adminij1tratio from State Meteorological Centres on routine basis. ·
- A Meteorologist also coordinates and explains the disastefJ man gers about the expected disastrous weather events, its forecast/warning, 1amag expected and suggested actions. ·
- A Meteorologist also helps in providing past historical data and it interpretations for preparedness, prevention and mitigation measures fo I any meteorological disasters. ·
- A Meteorologist also provides training in various capacity buildi I g programmes conducted by various authorities in the State for disaster managemeht. ·
- A Meteorologist also participates in the awareness pro I ram les for various stakeholders including farmers as and when required by tate ovemment and other authorities. ·
- (c) No Sir.
- (d) Doesn't arise.
- (e)-(t) The Geological Survey of India is mandated in the country for mappin " surveying and proposing mitigation plans with respect to landslide prone areas. N~ional [I entre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) situated in Thiruvananthapuram, under MoES is a basic R&D institute for Earth Sciences that undertakes individual research pr Igrams on applications of investigation tools (like SAR interferometry, soil moisture, pord b· pressure), mechanism of failures (debris flow, soil creep, rock fall etc) pertaining to sp cific fites of interest. These programs are not extended to whole district or to different na ural h. ards.

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