'Scientists should guide policy makers in tackling natural

Scientists and researchers working on climate change and analysing natural disasters must step forward to guide policy makers as to how to tackle such issues and chalk out a plan for the future, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today.
"People are concerned about climate change and scientists and researchers need to contribute by advising policy makers as to what needs to be done," he said while addressing the inaugural function of a four-day National Symposium on Tropical Meteorology (TROPMET-2016) here.
The Union Petroleum Minister said there are plans to lay a highway along Odisha coast up to Andhra Pradesh, construct more ports and create tourism facilities, but it is for the environmental scientists to advise policy makers as to what should or should not be done.

The symposium, attended by scientists, environmentalists and experts in the field both from this country and abroad, has been organised by the Indian Meteorological Society in collaboration with the Odisha government, Ministry of Earth Sciences and SOA University.
Odisha minister for higher education, science and technology, Pradeep Panigrahy, secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences M Rajeevan, IMS president Prof Ajit Tyagi, Odisha's Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, R Balakrishnan and Director of Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar S C Sahu also addressed the meeting.
Panigrahy said Odisha government has been playing a proactive role in disaster mitigation and dealing with weather hazards.

"But, these initiatives are short term. We need long term solutions to such problems from scientists," he said.

Asserting that Odisha is vulnerable to natural disasters, Rajeevan said the Centre had decided to set up two more Doppler radars at Sambalpur and Balasore in the state within two years.
Balakrishnan called for increased synergy between those responsible for prediction of weather conditions and those working for mitigation and intervention.
With advancement of technology, predictions by the IMD has become more accurate now, he said.
Sahu said five plenary sessions, 23 parallel technical sessions, two special evening lectures and other sessions are planned during the next three days.