KOCHI: A state-of-the-art, indigenous doppler weather radar, capable of predicting with increased accuracy weather events such as cyclone occurring in 500-km radius from Kochi, was inaugurated by Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, at Palluruthy in West Kochi on Wednesday.
It is the latest in a chain of 27 such advanced radars already installed in various parts of the country, and 25 more, in the Himalayan and northeast, are in the offing, Mr. Harsh Vardhan said. “The whole country will have such advanced weather forecast and warning systems in the next two to three years. As such, our storm surveillance systems, tsunami early warning, and cyclone forecast systems are world class,” he added.
The India Meteorological Department, he said, had already extended weather forecast while it heralded several changes in the farming sector. As many as 22 million farmers in the country received weather-related information through SMS daily.
The Minister said a ₹400-crore national monsoon mission was under way. A major step was being taken in earthquake prediction with the IMD and the Department of Science working on systems to give earthquake forecast.
He added that sensors had been set up some 5 km underground at Koyna in Maharashtra where the government was setting up an earthquake forecast centre. Meanwhile, research is in progress in oceans as well, with explorations for polymetallic modules and experiments at alternative sources of energy under way. The government is also exploring the scope of desalination of sea water, and various departments will be part of the the mission, which seeks to scale up the activity to make drinking water available to all.
The S-Band doppler weather radar in Kochi was made with support from ISRO and Bharat Electronics. ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar and IMD Director General K.J. Ramesh were present.