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Report on Seminar on Monsoons – 2016

Under the joint auspices of Indian Meteorological Society, Chennai Chapter and Regional

Meteorological Centre, Chennai a seminar on Monsoons-2016 with special reference to cyclone

VARDAH was held on the National Science Day, the 28th

February 2017, 10:00 IST at

Conference Hall-I, Regional Meteorological Centre, 6, College Road, Chennai 600 006.

The programme started with welcome address by Shri S.B.Thampi, DDGM, RMC

Chennai & Chairman, IMS Chennai Chapter. Then, Dr. K.Satyagopal, IAS, Commissioner of

Revenue Administration and State Relief Commissioner, Government of Tamil Nadu elaborated

on the disaster preparedness and mitigation measures taken by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu to meet

any eventually during the northeast monsoon 2016, especially during the cyclone VARDAH. He

appreciated the role of media for effectively reaching out to the public in dissemination of

warnings and government’s advises and directives. ShriS.Santhanagopalakrishnan, Additional

Director, Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu spoke about the agricultural

prospects for Tamil Nadu under the deficient northeast monsoon conditions. He also detailed

about new initiatives taken by some district collectors to improve the ground water levels in their

jurisdiction and the government’s plans to extend such programmes in other districts also. Smt.

S.Stella, Scientist-D, RMC Chennai reviewed the regional aspects of southwest monsoon 2016

and Dr. S.Balachandran, Scientist-F, RMC Chennai discussed the salient features of northeast

monsoon 2016 and their contrasting aspects with reference to northeast monsoon 2015. He also

detailed about the landfall aspects of cyclone VARDAH. Shri B.A.M.Kannan, Scientist-D, RMC

Chennai presented the Radar features of cyclone VARDAH with reference to track, wind speed,

eye parameters etc.

About 70 persons (including general public) attended the seminar. The programme was

covered by the press and the visual media. After each presentation, there were lively interactions

between the speakers and the audience. Overall, the combined effective roles of meteorologists,

disaster managers, civil administrators, print and the visual media in minimizing loss of lives and

property due to the impacts of landfall of cyclone VARDAH and the grim scenario arisen due to

largely deficient northeast monsoon 2016 was acknowledged by one and all. The programme

came to an end with vote of thanks by Dr.K.V.Balasubramanian, Secretary, IMS Chennai

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Chapter. The programme schedule and a few photographs taken during the event are enclosed in

Annexure-1 and Annexure-II respectively.

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Annexure-1

Seminar on Monsoons 2016

Date& Time: 28th

February 2017, 1000 hrs IST

Venue : Conference Hall – I, Regional Meteorological Centre,

6, College Road, Chennai 600 006.

Programme

1000-1005 IST Welcome Address Shri S.B.Thampi, DDGM, RMC Chennai

& Chairman, IMS Chennai Chapter

1005-1025 IST Cyclone VARDAH –

Disaster management

and rehabilitation

perspectives

Dr. K.Satyagopal, IAS

Commissioner of Revenue Administration

Government of Tamilnadu.

1025-1045 IST Impact of monsoons

2016 on agriculture in

Tamil Nadu

Shri S.Santhanagopalakrishnan

Additional Director

Department of Agriculture

Government of Tamil Nadu.

1045-1055: Tea break

1055-1115 IST Review of regional

aspects of Southwest

Monsoon 2016

Smt. S.Stella

Scientist-D, RMC Chennai

1115-1135 IST Review of regional

aspects of Northeast

Monsoon 2016

Dr. S.Balachandran

Scientist-F, RMC Chennai

1135-1155 IST Radar features of

cyclone VARDAH

Shri B.A.M.Kannan

Scientist-D, RMC Chennai

1155-1200 IST Vote of thanks Dr. K.V.Balasubramanian

Secretary, IMS Chennai Chapter

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Annexure-II

A few Photographs taken during the event

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