BHUBANESWAR: Two Doppler radar centres, which are now at completion stage at Gopalpur and Paradip, will start functioning within two months. This was informed by Director General (DG) of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) LS Rathore here on Monday.
“We hope that these centres will be operational within two months. This will be helpful in prediction of cyclonic storms, thunderstorms, excessive rainfall and hailstorms with more accuracy,” Rathore said after a meeting with Chief Secretary GC Pati. Union Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Science Shailesh Nayak was also present at the meeting.
Doppler radar, best known for its near accuracy weather forecast, will be useful in the natural calamity-prone Odisha coast which frequently bears the brunt of storms, cyclones and cloudbursts. The radar will make accurate forecast about the changing weather patterns, he said.
Rathore said the Doppler radars would pinpoint the exact location where a cyclone will hit whereas the traditional analogue radars used for weather forecast are only able to roughly indicate the possible places where the cyclone may hit.
So far, the weather forecast is done through traditional analogue radars which are currently functioning only at Bhubaneswar and Paradip.
It took more than nine years to complete construction of the two Doppler radar centres. The Ministry of Science and Technology sanctioned four stations in 2006. The other two are being set up at Balasore and Sambalpur.
Paradip centre will be operational shortly while the centre coming up at Gopalpur-on-sea at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore is planned to be made operational in August.
At present, the State has 177 automatic rain gauge system and 37 automatic weather stations. The Chief Secretary directed the office of Special Relief Commissioner to set up automatic rain gauge in each of 314 blocks.