Lok Sabha Question No. 89 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Weather Instrument Systems for Airports
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: L.S. Tejasvi Surya

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA

## MINISTRYOFEARTHSCIENCES LOKSABHA STARREDQUESTIONNo. *89 TO BEANSWERED ONFRIDAY,NOVEMBER22, 2019

## WEATHERINSTRUMENTSYSTEMSFORAIRPORTS

## *89. SHRIL.S.TEJASVI SURYA:

Will the Minister of EARTHSCIENCESbe pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a move to import Runway Visual Range (RVR)and Current Weather Instrument Systems under the umbrella of Integrated systems, ignoring the successful 'Made in India' products like Drishti RVRand Aviation Weather Monitoring Systems for 18 airports, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has issued a directive to give preference
- to "Make in India" products and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said move would be in contravention with the above
- directive and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether there is an existing partnership among CSIR, NAL and the Ministry over the manufacturing of products, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the estimated cost per integrated system to be imported along with the cost of each locally manufactured Drishti RVR and Aviation Weather Monitoring System?

ANSWER MINISTERFORSCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRYOFEARTHSCIENCES (DR.HARSHVARDHAN)

(a)to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *89 REGARDING WEATHER INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS FOR AIRPORTS TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 22ND NOVEMBER, 2019.

- (a) NoSir.

Due to operational exigencies, IMD plans to install Integrated Automatic Weather observing System (AWOS)at 18 airports (where the weekly flights are more than 500) on turnkey basis. The Request for Proposal (RFP)for the same is under preparation. Indian companies will be able to participate in the tendering process for AWOSat these 18 airports and the procurement process will be as per the Government of India guidelines to encourage "Make in India" products.

The integrated AWOS comprises of many components including Meteorological Sensors, Data Acquisition system (DAS), Central Data Processing & Integration system (CDPI), Communication System, Workstations & Displays, Data and Product Archival System (DAPS) & Auto generation of reports etc as per the guidelines and protocol prescribed by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The instrument named "Drishti", developed by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)for measuring Runway Visual Range (RVR)is only one of the many components of the integrated AWOS.

- (b) Yes Sir. Government of India has issued directive to give preference on Make in India products vide Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)OMP-4502/2/2017-B.E.-1I dated 15 June 2017.
- (c) NoSir.
- (d) A partnership agreement between IMDand NAL, Bangalore was signed on 20thMay,2014 for supply, maintenance and upkeep of 'Drishti' at a cost of Rs 18 lakh +taxes per unit. IMD has installed 45 Drishti systems at 28 airports so far. IMD will be soon placing order for additional 20 'Drishti' instruments.
- (e) In recent years, no such systems are imported. Hence it is difficult to
- estimate the current cost of such systems.

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