SHILLONG, JAN 18: Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan , on Monday inaugurated the Shillong Geophysical Research Centre of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) for detailed research on earthquakes in the entire north eastern region.
“This is a very sensitive region and I feel this regional centre, in the long run, will certainly help the people of the North Eastern states in a big way,” Dr Vardhan said while addressing the occasion. He said, the centre is not for prevention of earthquake but for prevention of damages from earthquakes.
Located at the Wilton Hall Estate, Upper Shillong, the Shillong Geophysical Research Centre which was established at the cost of Rs 500 lakh is the first in the North East region and the third in the country.
Referring to the questions often raised in the parliament that can earthquakes be predicted, he said, “With the type of research that they are going to do, there will be a time not in the very distant future but in the foreseeable future or a couple of years ahead, that we should be able to (predict an earthquake).”
“This new mechanism that they have established, will be able to observe a lot of things and more particularly the variations, temperature and pressure happening at different times, excursion, electron intensity and modulation very high and very low frequency… all these changes, they are going to observe continuously, consistently for years and then relate them to the occurrence of an earthquake,” he said.
He said, “When we know that we have observed some change today, and if there is an earthquake occurring 15 days later, then you correlate these things, then you probably can forecast or predict of things like earthquake.”
He also added “Anybody can raise this question of what can you do even if you predict because at least if I know what is likely to happen four days from now, I can forewarn the people and at least if it is two times or ten times it is a false warning, nothing is lost, you have everything to gain in those eight times when you at least warn the people that you can shut down your power supply, gas supply, and various systems.”
Stating that if somebody is cautious you can certainly prevent loss of live and property, Dr Varshan said, “We have seen what type of havoc have been caused by earthquakes in recent times in the neighbouring Nepal and Manipur and other places.”
Meanwhile, the union minister informed that the centre government is thoroughly committed to take science forward in a very proactive and dynamic manner.
“I can tell you with utmost confidence and certainty that today in almost all fields it’s not only geomagnetism which we are talking today, but in every field right now, whether it is ocean technology, marine biology, regular fundamental research in science and technology, or biotechnology, almost everywhere development of new technology in CSIR labs we are right now inferior to none in the world. Our services and research standards are world class,” he said.
He also claimed that if we look in the ministry of earth sciences, the weather prediction and forecast system and the services it provides to the farmers, are world class. “This year itself our department predicted with absolute accuracy about how much the rainfall is going to be. We warn the country well in advance and it came out absolutely accurate,” he said.
The type of information we provide to our farmers to almost 1.15 crore through text messages so that they can protect their agricultural process, farm houses, seeds, products.
“There is a report by the National Council of Applied Economic Research, which says – the type of information that the government (under the Modi regime) provides to farmers right now it create a positive impact of 1 lakh to 10, 000 crore in the GDP of the country,” he informed.
He also said, “Our early Tsunami warning system is world class and we informing 80 countries in the world across the coast, we are giving them the best information.-By Our Reporter
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