Lok Sabha Question No. 1021 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Modernization of Weather Prediction Technology
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA, JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA

- (a)
- (b)
- No Madam.
- Does not arise.
- (c) No  Madam.  Forecasting  of  flood  is  the  mandate  of  Central  Water Commission (CWC). India Meteorological Department (IMD) provide only meteorological support to the Flood Forecasting Service rendered by the CWC of Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR). IMD issued warnings 3-days in advance for occurrence of heavy (7-12 cm per day) to very heavy (13- 25 cm per day) rainfall that occurred in Chennai  and  other  parts  of  Tamilnadu  during  09 th ,  16 th ,  21 st   ,30 th November and 02 nd  December 2015. Regional Meteorological Centre Chennai  had  further  issued  more  area  specific  warnings,  in  which areas that were likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall (> 25cm per day) were also indicated to the state level disaster management authorities.The details is given in Annexure - I.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1021

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2017

## MODERNIZATION OF WEATHER PREDICTION TECHNOLOGY

1021. SHRI PINAKI MISRA: SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  outdated  technology,  old  equipments  and  shortage  of skilled staff are  causing hurdles for the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in weather prediction;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  IMD  failed  to  predict  torrential  rains  and  the  devastating floods in Tamil Nadu and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  purchase  latest  equipments, increase staff,  upgrade/modernise  the  technology  and  weather centres and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of funds required and made available for the purpose; and
- (f) the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  to  enhance  the  capability  and improve functioning of IMD?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

- (d-e)  Augmentation of the observing system networks for the upgradation of IMD and recruitment of staff is a continuing process that shall be taken up as per the emerging needs from time to time.

To  upgrade  the  infrastructure  and  modernization  of  technology  of IMD  year  wise  allocation  of  funds  during  XII th   Five  Year  Plan  are indicated below:

| Financial year   |   Fund allocated (Rs. in Crores) |
|------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2012-13          |                           206    |
| 2013-14          |                           200    |
| 2014-15          |                           190    |
| 2015-16          |                           174.18 |
| 2016-17          |                           241.6  |

- (f) Starting  from  the  XI  five  year  plan,  Government  has  initiated  a comprehensive upgradation of (i) observation systems (ii) advanced data assimilation tools (iii) advanced communication and IT infrastructure  (iv)  high  performance  computing  systems  and  (v) intensive/sophisticated  training  of  IMD  personnel  to  facilitate  the implementation  of  advanced  prediction  models  for  improving  the accuracy of weather forecasts.

During  the  XIIth  plan,  the  High  Performance  Computing  (HPC) systems have been up-scaled to 1.2 petaflops so far to support the ongoing efforts on modelling. Operational implementation of improved  suite  of  prediction  models  has  enhanced  the  weather forecasting  capability  through  assimilation  of  all  available  global satellite radiance data for the production of forecast products at 12 km  grid globally and  3 km  grid over India/regional/mega city domains.

## Annexure-I

## Heavy rainfall warning  issued by IMD for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during 5 th November to 03 rd  December, 2015.

| Spells of Heavy rainfall commencing from   | Date of Warnings issued                                                                                 |
|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 09-11-2015                                 | 05 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places                                                     |
| 09-11-2015                                 | 06 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places                                                     |
| 09-11-2015                                 | isolated extremely heavy 08 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with isolated extremely heavy |
| 16-11-2015                                 | 13 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with isolated extremely heavy                          |
| 16-11-2015                                 | 14 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with isolated extremely heavy                          |
| 16-11-2015                                 | 15 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with isolated extremely heavy                          |
| 21-11-2015                                 | 18 Nov. Heavy rain at isolated places                                                                   |
| 21-11-2015                                 | 19 Nov. Heavy rain at isolated places                                                                   |
| 21-11-2015                                 | 20 Nov. Heavy rain at isolated places                                                                   |
| 30-11-2015                                 | 25 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places                                                     |
| 30-11-2015                                 | 26 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places 27 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places |
| 30-11-2015                                 | 28 Nov. Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places                                                     |
| 30-11-2015                                 | 29, 30 Nov & 1 Dec. Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall     |
| 30-11-2015                                 | 02, 03 Dec. Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall             |