Lok Sabha Question No. 5395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Earth Science Initiatives in Kerala
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Shafi Parambil

- (a) Yes.
- (b) The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has developed advanced early warning systems for severe weather  events. These  systems  are  supported by a state-of-the-art observation network comprising surface and upper-air observations, remote sensing, high-resolution  dynamical  models,  and  an  end-to-end  GIS-based  Decision  Support System (DSS) developed by MoES institutions, which serves as the front end for early warning  systems  to  enable  detection  and  monitoring  of  weather  hazards  across  the country, including Kerala. The system is integrated with modern telecommunications technologies to ensure the timely dissemination of information. Effective dissemination methods for weather information and alerts by the MoES are as follows:
-  Public  alerts  and  information  are  disseminated  through  mobile  applications such as MAUSAM, MEGHDOOT, DAMINI, and UMANG.
-  Digital dissemination channels include e-mail and SMS-based nowcasting and forecasting alerts to registered users.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5395

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 25 TH  MARCH, 2026

## EARTH SCIENCE INITIATIVES IN KERALA

## 5395.   SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any recent studies on the increasing incidence of extreme weather events including floods, landslides and coastal erosion across the country particularly in the State of Kerala;
- (b) the details of early warning systems, Doppler weather radars and ocean observation systems installed in the country particularly in Kerala during the last five years;
- (c) whether any proposal has been received particularly from the Government of Kerala for strengthening disaster forecasting and climate resilience infrastructure and if so, the details and the status thereof;
- (d) the  funds  allocated  and  released  particularly  to  Kerala  for  coastal  vulnerability assessment and mitigation measures during the last five years; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to improve the accuracy and lead time of weather forecasts in high-risk districts particularly the district of Kerala?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

-  Alerts  are  issued  through  the  Common  Alerting  Protocol  (CAP)  and  the SACHET App.
-  Information is shared via social media and mass media platforms.
-  District  Collectors  are  informed  through  direct  e-mail  and  WhatsApp  group notifications, in coordination with the State Governments, including the Kerala State  Disaster  Management  Authority  (KSDMA),  the  Fisheries  Department, and the Agriculture Department.
-  Broadcast  dissemination  is  carried  out  through  community  radio,  public broadcasting systems, and other local communication networks.
-  Dissemination is also undertaken through State Government mobile applications.
-  Gram  Panchayat-level  weather  forecasting  (GPLWF)  is  facilitated  through digital platforms such as e-Gramswaraj, Meri Panchayat App, and e-Manchitra, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
-  Weather information is disseminated to Pashu Sakhi and Krishi Sakhi at the block  and  Panchayat  levels  in  collaboration  with  the  Ministry  of  Rural Development.
-  Weather forecasts are accessible through the Mausamgram portal of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
-  Ocean-based  early  warning  advisories  for  maritime  hazards,  such  as  high waves, strong currents, swell surges, storm surges, and tsunamis.
-  Provides operational support during maritime emergencies through the Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) and oil-spill trajectory advisories.
-  KAWACHAM (Kerala Warnings Crisis and Hazard Management System) is operated by the Government of Kerala for issuing alerts to the public.

The Central Water Commission (CWC), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has been mandated to issue flood forecasts. CWC issues short-range flood forecasts with a lead time of up to 24 hrs to concerned State Governments at identified locations. Further, CWC  is  providing  a  seven-day  advisory  flood  forecast  through  (https://ffs.indiawater.gov.in/)/FloodWatch India 2.0 App/E-mail/Whatsapp/FacebookCWCOfficial.FF/X-CWCOfficial\_FF, Youtube-CWC Flood updates.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI), under the Ministry of Mines, has been mandated to  issue  regional  landslide  forecasts/early  warnings  based  on  rainfall  thresholds. Currently,  GSI  issues  operational/experimental  daily  regional  landslide  forecast bulletins  to  21  districts  in  08  (eight)  States,  including  Kerala,  during  the  monsoon period.  These  bulletins  forecast  information  on  the  possibility  of  occurrence  of landslides up to the taluk/sub-divisional level daily for the next 48 hours.

The  details  of  Doppler  Weather  Radars  (DWRs)  and  Ocean  Observing  Systems installed in the country, including in the State of Kerala, during the last five years, are as follows:

-  A total of 16 DWRs, including new installations and upgradations, have been installed across the country during the period.
-  Of these, one DWR is operational in the State of Kerala, namely, one S-band (upgraded) at Kochi.
-  Coastal Water Quality buoy off Kochi
-  Coastal Flood Monitoring System off Azhimala, Thiruvananthapuram
-  Wave  Monitoring  Along  Nearshore  (WAMAN)  Buoy  off  Kozhikode  and Kollam
-  Tide gauges off Beypore, Kochi, and Kollam
-  Subsurface ADCP off Kollam
- (c)-(d)  No. The Ministry implements Central Sector Schemes uniformly across the country; therefore, the allocation of funds is not made on a State-wise basis. Funds under these schemes  are  not  released  directly  by  the  MoES  to  the  State  Governments  for implementation.
- (e) Mission Mausam has been  launched  by  the  Ministry  with  the  objective  of  making Bharat a "weather-ready and climate-smart" nation, including the State of Kerala. The Ministry  is  in  continuous  endeavour  of  augmenting  the  observational  and  R&D infrastructure, towards achieving better accuracy in weather forecasting.

IMD has also released a web-based 'Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas of India' prepared  for  the  13  most  hazardous  meteorological  events,  which  cause  extensive damage  and  economic,  human,  and  animal  losses.  The  same  can  be  accessed  at https://imdpune.gov.in/hazardatlas/abouthazard.html.  The  atlas  provides  information that  may  assist  State  Government  authorities  and  disaster  management  agencies  in identifying potential hotspots and planning appropriate measures to address extreme weather events across the country, including in Kerala's high-risk districts.

The  Indian  National  Centre  for  Ocean  Information  Services  (INCOIS),  under  the Ministry, conducts capacity-building programmes  on a regular basis and, in collaboration  with  the  KSDMA,  is  implementing  the  Tsunami  Ready  Program,  a community-based hazard preparedness initiative in coastal villages of Kerala.

*****