Lok Sabha Question No. 4532 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-30
Subject: Modernisation of IMD
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4532 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 30 TH  MARCH, 2022

## MODERNIZATION OF IMD

## 4532.    SHRI DULAL CHAND GOSWAMI:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of the programme related to the modernization of India Meteorological Department (IMD);
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  the  modernization  and  upgradation  of  all  the  weather forecasting centres across the country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) To  address  the  demand  for  more  accurate  and  user  specific  weather  &  climate  services,  a comprehensive  modernization  programme  of  IMD  was  initiated  during  11 th Five  Year  Plan (2007-12).  Implementation  of  this  programme  resulted  in  commissioning  of state  of  art observing  systems  throughout  the  country  with  their  networking  and  integration,  utilizing them  in  high  resolution  numerical  models  in  high  performance  computing  facility,  their visualization, archival and dissemination to the user community in a skilful manner.

Even though work began on all projects & sub-projects but some of the projects could not be completed during 11 th FYP in all aspects. The partially completed projects of 11 th FYP were continued  during  12 th FYP  (2012-17)  and  beyond  along  with  implementation  of  some  new projects  to  ensure  the  continuity  &  sustenance  of observations  and  optimal  enhancement  of facilities required for the betterment of weather forecasting services. All these projects were part of the umbrella scheme 'Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)' of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

The activities under ACROSS  are  continuing programs from previous plan periods encompassing various activities in an integrated manner aimed at strengthening the observational, communication, computing and modelling systems.

An independent Review Committee constituted by MoES evaluated the ACROSS scheme and the  respective  sub-schemes  and  strongly  recommended  the  continuation  of  all  the  schemes during 2017-20 & beyond to the 15 th Finance Commission for improved functional efficiency and  further  expansion  of  weather,  climate  and  related  hazard  detection,  monitoring  and warning services.

Following sub-schemes under the umbrella scheme ACROSS are being implemented in IMD during 2021-26.

1. Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars (PDWR)
2. Upgradation of Forecast System (UFS)
3. Weather and Climate Services (WCS)
4. Atmospheric Observations Network (AON)
5. (b) - (c) To  upgrade  the  forecasting  capabilities  throughout  the  country  including  modernization/ upgradation of forecasting centres, various programs are being implemented in IMD under all the above sub-schemes of IMD under ACROSS. Details of activities under ACROSS being implemented during 2021-26 are as follows:

## Commissioning of 11 C-band Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars:

-  Improve upon the spatial and temporal density of Radar observational network,
-  Effective Nowcasting and timely as well as precise warnings for severe weather events like Thunderstorms, Heavy Rainfall, Downburst, Gale winds, Hail, etc.

## Upgradation of Forecast System :

-  Augmentation  and  sustenance  of  Communication  Systems  Development  of  an  advanced Operational  Forecast  System,  Automation  of  Nowcast,  Thunderstorm  Testbed,  Urban Meteorological Services and Positional Astronomy services.
-  Upgradation of Hydrometeorological Services.
-  Integrated Himalayan Meteorological Programme for Western & Central Himalayas aimed at  establishing  the  dense  observational  network  through  commissioning  of  Doppler Weather  Radars,  Automatic  Weather  Stations,  Automatic  Rain  Gauges,  Snow  Gauge sensors, HAWOS, surface observatories etc.
-  Capacity building, Outreach, R&D, Publication etc.

## Weather & Climate Services :

-  Setting up of District Agro-Met Units (DAMUs) at all the districts complimentarily with existing AMFUs in the country for extension of Agromet Advisory Services (AAS).
-  To  expand  the  outreach  of  weather  based  Agromet  advisories  to  the  farmers  through multiple  means  of  communication,  collection  of  feedback  and  impact  assessment  of AAS.
-  Major upgradation of Meteorological facilities at all airports through commissioning of State-of-art  Integrated  Aviation  Weather  Observing  Systems  (AWOS),  Microwave Radiometers,  Doppler  LIDARs,  Wind  Profilers  etc  to  support  Aeronautical  MET Services.
-  Setting up of automated Heliport Weather Observing & Transmitting System (HAWOS) at Heliports, Landing ground, and other strategic locations to support the helicopter and low level flight operation of IAF, Indian Army and CPMF and also at important tourist and pilgrimage locations.
-  Sustenance & maintenance of Aviation Meteorological instruments and facilities through repairs, procurement of sensors, spares, CAMC/AMC etc.
-  Establishment of a state-of the-art Climate Data Centre with integrated advanced Climate Data Services portal for rendering national and regional climate services.
-  To  provide  a  comprehensive  set  of  improved  and  specialized  climate  services  for  the country through upgradation of the existing operational activities of climate monitoring, climate prediction, climate data management and climate applications.
-  Providing upgraded climate services to south Asia as WMO recognized Regional Climate Centre (RCC) for the region.
-  To upgrade the training infrastructure and facilities to enhance the capacity of the training establishment.  To  support  in  the  building  &  development  capacity  in  the  field  of operational  weather  &  Climate  services  to  the  countries  in  RA-II  region  as  a  WMO recognized  Regional  Training  Centre  (RTC)  for  the  region.  Contributions  among WMO/RIMES/ESCAP/Global  Framework for  Climate  Services  (GFCS)  in  South  Asia etc.

## Atmospheric Observations Network

-  Integrated Meteorological Services for the North-East (NE) region through commissioning of  DWRs,  AWOS/  HAWOS,  AWSs/ARGs/  SGs,  Microwave  Radiometers,  Wind LiDARsetc, and establishment/ upgradation of Meteorological Centres aimed at improving weather and climate services over the region.
-  Sustenance and Augmentation of observational networks comprising of Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs), Automatic Weather systems (AWSs), Upper Air (RS/RW and PB), Surface, Environmental and Polar Observatories etc.
-  Establishment/ upgradation and maintenance of Multi processing, computing and communication facilities for Satellite Meteorological Applications

******