Shaping Tsunami Risk Management in India: Reinventing Governance from Ocean Floor Fractures to Secure Coastlines
India is taking significant strides to bolster its tsunami resilience, with a focus on advanced seabed sensing technology and nature-based coastal defenses.
By 2028, the country plans to complete a 275 km seabed sensor cable, integrating GNSS-linked BPRs for near-field detection. This cutting-edge infrastructure will enable real-time monitoring of seismic events offshore, providing early warnings of potential tsunamis within ten minutes[1][5].
In parallel, India is investing in nature-based coastal defenses such as mangrove restoration projects. These initiatives, which will expand to 2,000 square kilometres by 2030, not only act as natural barriers but also enhance coastal security by reducing wave energy, stabilizing shorelines, and promoting biodiversity[2][4].
The synergy between these two approaches is supported by community-centric governance frameworks. A unified Coastal Hazard Management Authority will be set up to harmonise the mandates of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). This move aims to expedite funding and decision-making processes[6].
Moreover, at least one public building per coastal panchayat will be retrofitted as a vertical-evacuation refuge using FEMA design codes adapted to Indian standards. Additionally, a Coastal Resilience Cess will be legislated on port cargo and beachfront realty to fund multi-hazard shelters and siren upkeep[3].
To ensure timely and effective communication, Bilingual CAP push alerts will be mandated on all mobile networks, with text-to-speech conversion for feature phones and fisher VHF channels. Annual mock drills will also be institutionalised on National Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November), with dashboard transparency of participation metrics[3].
India's commitment to tsunami resilience is further demonstrated by its focus on indigenous R&D. Efforts are underway to incentivise research and development on low-cost GNSS reflectometry buoys, aiming to reduce import dependence and enable dense arrays[5].
This integrated strategy aligns with national guidelines and global initiatives like the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) and UNESCO’s IOC Tsunami Programme, which promote rapid decision-making, data sharing, and community preparedness[2][3][5].
In summary, India’s tsunami resilience is strengthened by advancements in real-time multi-layered seabed instrumentation, nature-based coastal defenses, inclusive governance linking technology and community preparedness, and a focus on indigenous R&D[1][2][4][5]. These efforts aim to compress the "warning-to-impact" window into a "prepare-to-prosper" timeframe, ensuring the safety and security of coastal communities.
[1] Tsunami Ready certification embedded in Swachh Bharat coastal beach ranking [2] India's mangrove stewardship programme to expand [3] Coastal Resilience Cess to fund multi-hazard shelters and siren upkeep [4] Mangroves as blue-carbon bioshields [5] India's seabed monitoring now incorporates a 24/7 seismic network [6] Unified Coastal Hazard Management Authority to harmonise MoES, MoEFCC, and NDMA mandates
- In addition to the advanced seabed sensing technology and nature-based coastal defenses, India is also investing in research and development to create low-cost GNSS reflectometry buoys, integrating indigenous R&D in its tsunami resilience strategy.
- Parallel to the enhancement of science and technology, the environmental science sector is also prioritized with a mangrove restoration project, aiming to expand to 2,000 square kilometres by 2030 and promote biodiversity.
- To both benefit from technology advancements and community preparedness, India is establishing a unified Coastal Hazard Management Authority that links the mandates of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the National Disaster Management Authority.
