Panaji (Goa): From this monsoon season, the State will have accurate weather observational network, with China-made high tech Doppler radar operation to begin from this month. The sophisticated technology has already been installed at the Altinho station of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

The decision to install the sophisticated equipment was taken following the death of around 70 fishermen from the State as a result of Phyan cyclone in 2009. In the absence of radar, the IMD had failed to warn the trawler owners about the coming storm.

IMD had de-commissioned the old radar in December 2008. It was installed in 2002 in Goa after it successfully served West Bengal for almost a decade.

IMD-Goa, Director M L Sahu said, “The new high tech Doppler radar installation has been completed and the department has already started running the radar on trial basis and by next week we expect the radar to be fully functional.”

“The Doppler radar uses more advanced knowledge of clouds, rainfall and the cyclonic depression. The range for the Doppler radar is actually 450 kms but at 300 kms we get a clear picture. If you visit our website, you shall be able to see the radar images. The radar is capable of giving five days forecast and an additional two days making it seven days,” he explained.

Earlier, a cluster of many devices were used to determine the weather like analysis chart, model of forecasting and satellite cloud images.

“With the new radar, the department shall be able to forecast the weather even two to three hours in advance. This system shall be operated 24 hours. It is especially useful for Goa. Being a coastal state, this radar can be used in providing vital information about the oncoming thunder storms, cyclones and other calamities,” sources said.

The state of the art Doppler radar, costing Rs 5 crore, was due to be commissioned in 2010. But following directions from the Union Defence Ministry, due to security reasons, the radar was shifted out of the state.

Team TNV