2 ARG stations, 4 Doppler radars to be set up in Odisha

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, July 8:

As part of its modernization programme aimed at enhancing weather monitoring facilities, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) centre here has planned to install two automatic rain gauge (ARG) stations in Malkangiri and Koraput district of Odisha.

This apart, the Meteorological centre has also decided to install Doppler radar at four locations in the State. This was informed by the Odisha’s Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra at a workshop on ‘Users’ Meet Related to Severe Weather Events’ organised by Meteorological Department, Bhubaneswar (MDB) in association with IMD here today.

The Chief Secretary said the Odisha Government will provide all possible support and infrastructure to the weather department to fight any emergencies occurring in the state.

MDB director Dr S C Sahu informed that installation of ARG stations will further reduce manpower and expenses. The stations will make the system of data collection more convenient and faster.

After the ARG installation, the number of such stations will increase to 179 in Odisha. The department has proposed to set up 187 such centres in the state, he said.

This unmanned technology will help in accurate collection of rainfall data from the districts. It will also provide updated information on an hourly basis.

The satellite-based stations would be monitored by the Earth Station at Pune and data regarding rain would be made available hourly. The rain gauges, which costs Rs 3-4 lakhs each to install, would also be equipped with sensors to measure temperature, wind speed, atmospheric pressure and humidity, Dr Sahu said.

Dr Sahu also said to get accurate weather forecasting capability, the department has planned to install Doppler radar at four locations: Paradip, Balasore, Gopalpur and Sambalpur. “The installation work is on in Paradip and we expect it will be over by October this year,” he added.

While the IMD will install the radars, the state government will provide necessary infrastructure support. Rs 20-25 crore would be spent to install each Doppler radar.

The Government has already allotted sites to install such radars at the three other locations and work on them will start very soon, he said.

P K Mohapatra, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Odisha said the advanced technology installed by the department will help the users to get accurate weather related data quickly and save lives during any kind of disaster.

He, however, said it would only be possible if weathermen, newsmen, academic researchers, stakeholders and the state Government work together in conveying accurate information about the weather to the public.

Seminars talks on ‘Use of Satellite data products in weather forecasting’ were also presented by the delegates of the department.

Among others Dr L S Rathore, Director General of IMD, Prof U C Mohanty, Professor of School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, IIT, Bhubaneswar also spoke on the occasion.