The Government of India has initiated the procurement and installation of 10 x-band doppler weather radars (DWRs) to enhance weather forecasting and monitoring capabilities in the northeastern states of India and the Lahaul & Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh.
Government of India’s x-band doppler weather radar investment
The announcement was made by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The minister was answering an unstarred question In Rajya Sabha.
Dr Jitendra Singh shared that radars are set to be installed at key locations across the northeastern states, including Guwahati, Dhubri, Jorhat, Tezpur, and Silchar in Assam; Aizawl in Mizoram; Dimapur in Nagaland; Imphal in Manipur; and Mandala Top and Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh. He said, “Radars are expected to significantly bolster the region’s capacity to monitor and respond to weather-related events.”
The Earth Sciences minister informed that in addition to the installations in the northeast, the government has successfully completed the procurement process for an x-band DWR for the Lahaul and Spiti District in Himachal Pradesh.
Improved severe weather warnings
Singh expressed his confidence that radar will play a crucial role in improving weather forecasting in the Himalayan region, which is prone to sudden and severe weather changes, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving disaster preparedness and providing accurate weather information to the citizens of these regions.
The deployment of these radars is part of a broader initiative by the Government of India to strengthen the country’s meteorological infrastructure. By enabling more precise and timely weather predictions, these radars are expected to contribute to better disaster management, potentially saving lives and reducing property damage during extreme weather events.
In related news, the University of Reading has published a study in the journal Weather and Climate Dynamics, which reveals cyclonic storms are occurring more often during India’s summer. Click here to read the full story.