Forecast station waits for upgrade

MANOJ KAR

Paradip, April 27: Stalemate persists over the much-awaited Doppler project in Paradip.

Commissioning of the Doppler radar project for generation of foolproof weather data, especially regarding advance information about cyclones, storms and cloudbursts, is going to be further delayed. The procurement of indigenous brand of radar has emerged as a stumbling block for the project. Incidentally, the Rs 24crore project was scheduled to get operational by December 31 this year.

Earlier, the defence ministry had put brakes on the installation of the China-made Doppler system. The ministry had sought for its replacement with indigenously manufactured radar on the grounds of national security.

“We have been officially told that the Doppler system, manufactured by the government-run Bharat Electronics Limited, would be installed in Paradip. We are expecting its arrival shortly,” said Sarat Kumar Sahu, state director of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

From routine temperature predictions to chasing mighty storms, the Doppler station would meticulously predict adverse weather conditions in advance. The system would have a digital image of the weather condition of a particular region, thus projecting a clear and accurate weather forecast.

“The Doppler radar station would be of use to the natural calamity-prone Orissa coast as it would make accurate forecasts about the changing weather patterns, cyclones, storms and cloudbursts,” said Sahu.

“The China-made Doppler radar system is still in our possession. After the Union defence ministry directed us not to install the China-made equipment, it is now under lock and key and has not been put to use. The building and other infrastructure are ready for launching the state-of-the-art weather station. We are yet to be provided with the indigenous Doppler system,” said Sahu.

“Since the radar meant for the Paradip meteorology wing is manufactured in China, security concerns have been raised by the defence ministry. It was apprehended that the in-built chips in the radar might help pass on vital information to the manufacturing country,” Sahu said.

The Doppler radar station in Mumbai had faced similar defence-related problems in using the China-made radar equipment. However, now it has become operational with the installation of an indigenously built Doppler system.

At present, the meteorology station in Paradip is equipped with a less improvised analogous radar system.

(sourced from the telegraph)