Itanagar, June 07: Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CES & HS) have joined forces to install 100 automatic weather stations (AWSs) and automatic rain gauge stations (ARGs) in the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh.
These stations will facilitate weather predictions and monitoring, even in the most remote and inaccessible areas near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that borders China, according to IMD officials.
An MoU was signed between the IMD, CES & HS, and the Arunachal Pradesh government in Itanagar. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju, who expressed optimism about the benefits that precise weather forecasts and warnings would bring to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. Rijiju emphasized the significance of increased meteorological observations in the state.
The MoU was signed by Repo Ronya, Secretary of Science and Technology in the Arunachal Pradesh government, and KN Mohan, Head of the Regional Meteorological Centre (Guwahati) of the IMD.
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Mohan revealed that while the AWSs and ARGs would be located within Arunachal Pradesh, some installations would be in close proximity to the China border. He also mentioned that certain areas lacked mobile phone networks, so the collected data would be transmitted via satellite.
Mohan further stated, “We have been informed that land acquisition has already been completed, and the installation of the 100 AWSs and ARGs at the new sites, where weather observation mechanisms were previously lacking, will commence immediately.”
Tana Tage, Director of CES & HS, expressed confidence that this MoU would have a long-term impact on the institute’s research activities, ultimately benefiting society at large. The collaboration between IMD, CES & HS, and the Arunachal Pradesh government is expected to enhance weather monitoring capabilities and provide valuable insights for the region, particularly in remote and challenging terrains near the LAC.
