UN slams Indian refusal to share quake data

Indian seismologists at an UN tsunami conference said sharing seismic data had security implications as seabed terrain could be mapped, possibly helping others learn about the nation's submarines and warships.

And Indian seismologists said providing information on earthquakes below a magnitude of six was unnecessary in seeking to prevent a tsunami.

"Only an earthquake with a magnitude of more than seven has the potential to generate a tsunami," said G.D. Gupta, head of the seismology division in the Ministry of Science and Technology.

"That's why we're willing to provide data on quakes above the magnitude of six."

He was speaking on the sidelines of the UN conference which aims to set up a tsunami early warning system for Indian Ocean countries by next year. Sharing seismology data was considered a crucial part of developing the system.