Lok Sabha Question No. 3590 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Appointment of Meteorologist
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3590 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 22 ND  MARCH, 2023

## APPOINTMENT OF METEOROLOGIST

## † 3590.    SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI SANJAY JADHAV:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has the details of those services that a meteorologist can provide to the district administration in disaster prone areas;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  appoint  a  meteorologist  along  with  adequate supporting infrastructure to each disaster prone district in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government  proposes to appoint meteorologist/geologist for providng assistance to district administration in hilly areas like excessive landslide prone areas;
- (f) if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)-(b)   India  Meteorological  Department ( IMD) is responsible for monitoring,  detection and  forecasting  of  weather  and  climate  including  severe  weather  events  such  as cyclones,  heavy  rainfall,  extreme  temperature  etc.  These  forecasts  are issued at national, regional and state levels from IMD.

For  providing  time  to  time  early  warning  services  for  all  types  of  weather  and hydrological  disasters,  IMD  follows  a  seamless  forecasting  strategy.  The  longrange  forecasts  for  the  whole  season  issued  are  being  followed  with  extended range forecast issued on every Thursday with a validity period of four weeks. To follow  up  the  extended  range  forecast,  IMD issues short to  medium  range forecast and warnings  daily valid up to  next  five  days  with  an  outlook  for subsequent two days. The short to medium range forecast is followed by very short range forecast of severe weather up to three hours (nowcast) for all the districts and  1171  locations.  These  nowcasts  are  updated  every  three  hours  or  as  per requirement.

Meteorologists extend the following services to district administration through the Regional Meteorological Centres/State Meteorological Centres.

-  Location specific nowcast, city forecast, current weather observations  and daily rainfall data are being provided on routine basis.
-  Coordinates and explains the disaster managers about the expected disastrous weather events, its forecast/warning, damage expected and suggested actions.
-  Provide past historical data and its interpretations for preparedness, prevention and  mitigation  measures  for  any  meteorological  disasters. Extend  support  in capacity building programmes conducted by Disaster  Management Authorities.
-  Participate  in  the  awareness  programmes  for  various  stakeholders including farmers as and when required.
- (c)-(d) IMD  is  meeting the service requirements including support to disaster management with the existing infrastructure and organisational set  up. Upgradation  of  infrastructure  and  facilities  is  a  continuous  process  in  IMD which  includes  inducting  manpower  also  as  per  requirements. About  200 District  level  Agrometeorological  Units  (DAMU) have been established in collaboration with Indian Council for Agricultural Research  (ICAR). In each DAMU there is a Subject Matter Specialist for Agrometeorological Services at district and Block level. Such specialists are also posted in 131 Agrometeorological  Field  Units  (AMFU)  representing  Agroclimatic  zones  in collaboration with ICAR and state/central universities.
- (e)-(g) No  such  proposal  to  appoint  meteorologists/geologists specifically for hilly areas had been  initiated  by  the  ministry.  However,  IMD  in  collaboration  of  Geological  Survey  of India  (GSI)  and  National  Remote  Sensing  Centre  (NRSC)  etc.  carry  out  the  hazard  and vulnerability analysis for the country including hilly region and is providing impact band forecasts related to heavy rainfall induced landslides, flash flood etc.

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