The new high-tech radar will replace the two-decade old cyclonic detection radar and will be crucial to fishermen, farmers and people at large, especially during inclement weather.
The state-of-the-art Doppler radar, costing Rs 5 crore, was due to be commissioned in 2010. But a security scare amid reports that it was a Chinese made radar mothballed it and it was shifted out of state for security reasons by the Union Defence Ministry in 2012. But now the radar is set for installation in Goa before the monsoon sets in this June. IMD Goa observatory is awaiting some parts of this sophisticated gadget from China.
Speaking to Herald, IMD Goa in-charge N Haridasan confirmed about the installation of the Doppler radar before this monsoon.
“The entire infrastructure is ready. Major portion of the radar has arrived. We are waiting for some parts to come from China and once these arrive, it would be installed. We are hopeful that before the ensuing rainy season, we would install the system,” he said.
Haridasan said that the Doppler equipment will help the department to increase the span of its forecast. “With the new radar, we will be able to forecast the weather or wind even two to three hours in advance. Right now the latest forecast is of 24 hours,” he said adding that the system would be operated 24 hours through a special control
station.
