Q. 575: DISASTER MANAGEMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME

Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Disaster Management Support (DMS) programme renders assistance by way of providing proper information at all the stages of disaster management in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the effective steps being taken by the DMS in regard to increasing its role in flood management at national level so as to minimize the risk of flood;

(d) whether the State Government of Bihar was forewarned about the devastating floods of Kosi during the previous years; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

(SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY): (a), (b), (c), A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

(d) & (e)

STATEMENT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN REPLY TO (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.575 REGARDING `DISASTER MANAGEMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME` ASKED BY SHRI JAGADANAND SINGH FOR ANSWER ON WEDNESDAY 16, 2012.

(a) & (b) Department of Space, under the Disaster Management Support (DMS) Programme, provides information derived from satellites and aerial survey data, to the country, in near real-time basis. The information provided is mainly on impact of certain natural disasters, such as flood, cyclone, earthquake and landslide; assessment of the severity of agricultural drought; and areas affected by forest fires. Such information derived by satellite and aerial data, provided by the Department, is used by the States/ Departments concerned in planning relief, rehabilitation and mitigation of disasters. Further, the Department of Space also supports emergency communication during natural disasters through satellite based fixed networks as well as mobile devices.

(c) Under the Disaster Management Support (DMS) Programme, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)

of ISRO generates near-real time flood inundation maps for the major flood events in the country, using satellite data and at times aerial data. These maps are made available to the central Ministries/ agencies concerned as well as the State Governments for relief operations. Further, the database created for the flood prone areas using space inputs are made available at National Remote Sensing Centre. Towards capacity building, exclusive training programmes on utilization of space based products for disaster management are organised for State Government officials on annual basis.

(d) No, Sir. However, the inundation caused due to the floods in Kosi River was continuously monitored using satellite data. The inundation information and its likely course was made available to Government of Bihar, which helped them in planning the evacuation and undertaking relief measures.

(e) Does not arise.

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