Date:06/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/06/stories/2005090602211900.htm

Back Strict adherence to coastal zone regulations urged

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam , Sept. 5

"IF there is one lesson that the tsunami has taught us, it is that coastal regulatory zone stipulations should be strictly adhered to," Dr K.S.R. Murthy, the Director of the local branch of the National Institute of Oceanography, said.

He was speaking at a one-day workshop on disaster preparedness organised here on Monday by the district Fishermen's Welfare Organisation.

Dr Murthy said that the strict enforcement of CRZ rules is needed to face all kinds of threats arising from the sea — be it a cyclone or tsunami. "Disaster preparedness has to become a key component of any kind of development model we envisage for the coastal areas," he said.

He said that the Indian Government, along with other nations, is making efforts to set up an integrated tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean, which, according to the present indications, might be ready by 2007.

Earlier, Mr Subrahmanyam, Director of Cyclone Warning Centre, explained the procedures to be adopted in the event of a cyclone. He wanted the preparation and implementation of village-level plans to mitigate such natural disasters. Mr A. Dasu, Executive Secretary of the association, and several representatives of NGOs spoke on the issue.