Prediction of monsoon variability is important: Expert

Ahmedabad, Feb 5 (UNI) Monsoon rainfall is the only source of water in many parts of India and is also the national hazard causing floods and heat wave, making prediction of monsoon variability and how it is caused very important, an expert said today.

Addressing the three-day international workshop ''Monsoon Climate Variability and Change: Their Impact on Water, Food&Health in Western India'' at the Nirma University campus here, the Centre for Research on the Changing Earth Systems (CRCES) chairman Dr Vikram Mehta said in 2002 there was severe drought, while in 2005 and 2006 there was very good monsoon. Heavy rains that lashed Mumbai and Gujarat had caused extensive damage. Last year, Central Gujarat was badly affected by floods, causing damages worth Rs 22,000 crore.

''Can we predict these meterological changes? Yes, we can with little more research. There are also unknown impacts. So India, especially western India, must be prepared to mitigate these harmful climactic changes,'' he said.

''This is a unique workshop bringing in scientists to review climactic changes and its impact on Western India,'' he said.

''In India, there are less than 10 universities that teach courses on climatic changes while the US, with a third of India's population, has 100 universities that give PhDs. We need to set up a centre for studies on climactic changes. Hopefully, this workshop will pave the way to set up this centre, Dr Mehta added.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the workshop, while state Agriculture Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma was also present.

Besides Mr Mehta, the other experts included Dr Kirit Parekh, Member, Planning Commission, R K Kolli, chairman, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and some from NASA.

UNI