NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the scientists on Tuesday to focus on innovating early-warning systems for earthquakes and launched initiatives to make India “climate-smart”.
Emphasising the importance of research, he said, “There is a need to develop warning systems for earthquakes and scientists and researchers should work in this direction.”
Commemorating the 150th year of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Modi described its journey as a significant chapter in India’s modern science and technology.
Modi also launched ‘Mission Mausam’, the initiative to boost weather monitoring using state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced radars, satellites, and high-performance computing systems.
He underscored the necessity of making India more “weather-resilient” and “climate-smart”. The objective is to improve “the understanding of weather and climate processes and provide air quality data that will help strategise weather management and intervention in the long run.”
Commending the IMD’s efforts in delivering weather-related services, especially to vulnerable communities, the PM said, “A decade ago, only 10% of the farmers could access weather-related services, but today, this number has risen to over 50%. With the support of IMD, fishermen receive timely info on weather-related aspects.”
Highlighting India’s regional leadership in meteorological services and disaster management, he expressed satisfaction over “our flash-flood guidance system providing critical info to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka”.
He elaborated on India’s initiative, ‘’Early Warning to All’’, which currently covers more than 90% of the population, and mentioned the ‘Meghdoot mobile app’, which provides weather updates in local languages.