Phailin brings sea-change to Govt image, claims Jaipal

Do you feel relieved after the cyclonic storm Phailin?

It is highly gratifying that the very severe cyclonic storm, Phailin, was predicted accurately by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). As a consequence, the direct damage from the cyclone was minimised to such a low level. The early prediction, accompanied by the unprecedented evacuation of over one million people in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha has set a world record of sorts. There has been global media admiration pouring in for the exemplary manner with which predictions were made, greatly contributing to checking loss of human lives.

What was the highpoint of the IMD prediction?

The IMD forecast intensity, track and point and time of the landfall of Phailin Cyclone. Warnings of heavy rainfall, the wind speed and the storm surge were bang on the dot. First signal was given on October 3. First indication of intensification was given on October 7. On October 9, it was forecast that the cyclonic storm would cross between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by the night of October 12 as a very severe cyclonic storm. Warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall were given to Odisha and adjoining states 72 hours in advance. When the United States Met agencies overestimated the intensity, the IMD maintained that the wind speed would be around 210-220 kmph. The IMD scientists were not biased by the forecast guidance by foreign agencies. Instead, they relied upon their own experience and expertise, blended with the latest forecast techniques and methodology established by the government.

How do you view the response to it in Andhra Pradesh?

The State Government has acted with alacrity in tackling the cyclonic storm. I am particularly happy that the APNGOs, who were on agitation, chose to suspend their agitation in view of the natural calamity. It was a very good gesture on their part.

But it was only suspension of agitation. The grievances have not been addressed?

The Group on Ministers (GoM) has been tasked with the responsibility of addressing all issues and concerns of the people of Seemandhra region and to work out modalities for an amicable solution. After all, any division is tinged with sadness. But a mutually satisfactory solution can be found to any issue and I am confident that even on this issue, too, a resolution will be found that will prove to be satisfactory to all sides.

Don’t you think division of Andhra Pradesh will spark similar Statehood demands?

Telangana is a stand-alone case. It is an issue that has been considered by the States Reorganisation Commission. This cannot be said about other similar demands. Besides, there has been an agitation for over 60 years now. Telangana Statehood issue cannot be equated with any other Statehood demand.

There is a criticism that the Congress-led UPA Government has sought to corner credit over the cyclone?

The prediction has made possible because of the investments of Rs 750 crore made during the 11th Five-Year Plan. This enabled modernisation of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). A network of Doppler Weather Radars, Automatic Weather Stations, Automatic Rain Gauges, state-of-the-art upper air systems, ocean buoys, radars, satellite telecommunication systems and high performance computing systems. In the experience of Phailin Cyclone, we have found that the investments are not very large or glamorous. But it was critical investment that reaped rich dividends. The Congress-led UPA can legitimately look upon this achievement with great satisfaction. What is wrong in it? We are now planning to further investment of Rs 9,000 crore during the 12th Five-Year Plan on forecasting and allied activities, which will make our ability to predict even stronger.

Do you think that the Government initiatives helped in minimizing the losses?

Comparisons have been drawn with the cyclone now and the Super Cyclone that struck Odisha in 1999. Intensity of winds in the Super Cyclone was 260 kmph, while the wind speed in Phailin Cyclone was 220 kmph. Toll in the Super Cyclone was 9558, to be precise. Even a single death is a matter of shame for the government, but this time round, it was not in the cyclone but in post-cyclone accidents that a few lives were lost. Loss of human has been virtually brought to zero in the cyclone, barring the post-cyclone accidental deaths. There has, however, been enormous loss to the infrastructure, breakdown in communications systems and damage to roads, buildings and standing crops. There is a need for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction measures in the affected areas.

Do you think that India has come of age in disaster management?

I must say that it goes to the credit of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who took the extraordinary step of creating the National Disaster Management Authority in the wake of the Tsunami tragedy of 2004. The Tsunami Early Warning System was set up, which is fully operational and is the singular achievement of the Congress-led UPA Government. The Ministry of Earth Sciences was also started, which brought ocean and atmosphere under one umbrella. It has created synergy between the various agencies involved in making predictions and resulted in more accurate forecasts.

Is this the first time that such predictions have been made with such accuracy?

Two earlier cyclones were also predicted with equally great accuracy by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). One was the Thane Cyclone in 2011 and the other was Nilam Cyclone in 2012. This only shows our record in predicting cyclones is consistent and I would like to compliment the entire IMD Team and the Ministry of Earth Sciences for this commendable achievement. Besides, the Indian Armed forces, NDMA, NDRF, and various other government agencies also did a good job. They tackled the situation arising out of the Cyclone Phailin, with exemplary courage and efficiency. They, along with the personnel of the Ministry of Railways, Surface Transport, Petroleum and Telecommunication, worked with single-minded focus on delivery. The Central Government had deployed 18 Army helicopters and 12 aircraft.

Six relief columns of Army with relief material had been sent to Odisha and 4 relief columns to Andhra Pradesh and 2 Navy ships and 7 navy helicopters with relief material were kept on standby. While 26 NDRF teams were deployed in Odisha, 19 teams were in Andhra Pradesh, 3 in West Bengal, 3 in Bihar and 2 in Jharkhand.

Did the Government also factor in breakdown in communications?

Fearing that mobile telephone contact could suffer a breakdown, 44 satellite phones had been sent to the affected areas, which helped unstinted communication during the worst phases of the cyclone. Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns stocked sufficient advance stock for 6 months. Besides, 50,000 tarpaulins, 100 tonnes of chidwa has been sent to affected areas. With alacrity, train services were restored from Puri to Howrah; Bhubaneswar Airport was also made almost immediately functional; and 25 Railway stations were kept open for relief tasks, with additional locomotives kept on stand-by. The Central Government asked all private telecom players to route signals via one tower, if needed. Nearly 26 vehicles were sent to back up communication services. The Oil Ministry has ensured that all categories of fuel, right from aviation fuel to kerosene oil were in abundant supply in all the affected areas.