Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 6: Karnataka’s first C Band Doppler Weather Radar (DWR), located in Mangaluru, is expected to be operational by the end of January, despite a slight delay due to technical difficulties. The radar, which was initially scheduled for completion by January 15, is now set to begin functioning at the end of the month, according to N Puviarasan, head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bengaluru Centre.
“We are hopeful to get it running by the end of this month,” Puviarasan said on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ workshop organised by IMD Bengaluru on Saturday, marking the 150th anniversary of the department.
The workshop, hosted at the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre (KSNDMC), included a range of technical sessions, with contributions from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and the Department of Agro Meteorology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru.
Puviarasan also discussed challenges faced by IMD in establishing a S-band DWR in Bengaluru. He explained that the project encountered issues related to land acquisition, as the IMD requires a 30x30-meter plot for the tower and utility room.
While the initial plan was to set up the radar at Nandi Hills, the location was changed following a request from Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment, Shobha Karandlaje. On July 23, 2024, Karandlaje had announced that IMD had approved the installation of the radar in Bengaluru, with plans to make it operational by the year’s end. However, Puviarasan explained that the initially suggested site had elevation problems that could affect the radar’s performance, as no structures taller than the radar should be within its operational range.
Currently, IMD has identified a new location within a government school in Bengaluru and is awaiting permission to proceed with the installation. "Since it's a government school, we won't need to build a boundary wall, which already exists. So, we are hopeful,” Puviarasan said. If the government school site does not work out, the radar will be installed at Nandi Hills as originally planned.
The Mangaluru radar, being set up near Kadri, will cover a 250-300 km radius, providing enhanced weather forecasting for regions in Karnataka that are prone to heavy rainfall during monsoons, including Agumbe, Hulikal, Talakaveri, Kerekatte, and Bhagamandala. Puviarasan also mentioned plans for an X-band DWR in Dharwad and proposals for S-band radars in Honnavara and C-band radars in Ballari.
Currently, Karnataka relies on weather radars in Goa, Hyderabad, and Chennai for accurate forecasting of thunderstorms and rainfall.
During the workshop, KSNDMC Director Bhoyar Harshal Narayanrao discussed Karnataka’s vulnerability to natural disasters. He pointed out that 80% of the state is prone to drought, with 16 of the last 23 years affected by drought. He also highlighted the widespread damage caused by landslides in districts such as Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada, and Kodagu, with 2018 seeing the highest number of landslides in recent years.
Narayanrao further emphasised the success of KSNDMC, which is the only disaster monitoring centre of its kind in southern India. He mentioned that other states are considering establishing similar centres. The KSNDMC is also exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence in disaster management, although Narayanrao cautioned that they are taking a measured approach to its integration.
Other presentations at the workshop included an overview of IMD services by S Balachandran, head of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, and discussions on climate services in support of the Karnataka State Action Plan on climate change by former IMD Director-General K J Ramesh. Sanjeev Verma, AGM of Air Traffic Management at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, also spoke about the importance of weather forecasting for air traffic management.