BN Krishna Murty, advisor in the department of ocean development, has already been appointed as pre-project manager. India's contribution towards the project infrastructure is $5.25 million. The Centre has appreciated the efforts of Indian meteorological department (IMD) in predicting the place and intensity of the cyclonic storm well three days in advance. On October 27, IMD had warned that a cyclonic storm developed in the north Andaman sea moved in a north-westerly direction and emerged into east-central Bay of Bengal. It has since intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centered at 8.30 am on October 27 about 750 km southeast of Paradip in Orissa. The storm is likely to intensify further and move in a north-westerly direction.

IMD had also issued cyclonic alert for north Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal coasts. It also stated that adverse weather in form of heavy rains and strong winds is likely to commence by afternoon of October 28 in these areas.

In the $45.5 million project approval meeting of member countries recently concluded in Delhi it was resolved that Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Iran and India will continue their efforts to get clearance and funding from all concerned authorities of their government for implementation of the project by April 30, 2000. Efforts are on to seek cooperation from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait.

Technical support will be provided by inter-governmental oceanographic commission (IOC), world meteorological organisation (WMO) and Unesco-IHP. The donar agencies like ADB, AUSAID, CIDA, EU, GEF, NORAD, ODA, SIDA, UNDP, USAID and the World Bank will provide external assistance to the tune of $33.5 million. The project is for five years.

India is likely to invest over $ 5.25 million out of the total contribution by all member countries amounting to $ 11.9 million for the project.

The project leader, TS Murty will modify the management structure of the project and the relevant parts of the appendices in view of the discussion and submit them to the member states and international and concerned regional organisations by January 31, 2000.

The pre-project manager, BN Krishnamurthy in consultation with the project leader will provide the profiles of the consultants in the relevant sections of the proposal and submit them to the member states and IOC, WMO and UNESCO by January 31, 2000. The member states and regional organisations will identify a coordinator and intimate with with full details to the pre-project manager and IOC, WMO and UNESCO by December 31, 1999. The pre-project manager will approach regional offices of glbal funding agencies to seek their interest in providing financial support to the project and inform regularly member states and IOC, WMO, IHP of UNESCO of the results of his negotiations. IOC, WMO, IHP of UNESCO as well as member states will consider ways of providing financial assistance to pre-project manager in implementing his responsibilities by April 30, 2000. IOC, WMO, IHP of UNESCO and member states will be required to consider further action in negotiating with funding agencies based on the information provided bythe pre-project manager in order to have a clear cur picture of possible sources of funding by July 31, 2000. Member states will send information on loss of life and property damage in dollar terms during 1970-1999 due to cyclones and associated storm surges as well as other natural disasters to the project leader by January 31, 2000.

The pre-project manager, project leader, IIT Delhi and IMD in consultation with the IOC, WMO and UNESCO will prepare and publish the brochure on the project proposal by January 31, 2000.