Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu urged the Centre on Tuesday to install one Doppler weather radar and 150 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) across the state to bolster early warnings against cloudbursts, flash floods, and other climate-induced disasters. Meeting Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh here, Sukhu highlighted the state's fragile Himalayan geography and escalating global warming impacts, which have triggered an alarming surge in natural calamities, inflicting massive economic losses.
Sukhu specifically requested deployment before the next monsoon to ensure every district—especially vulnerable ones—receives real-time data integrated with national early warning systems. He expressed gratitude for the approved Doppler radar in high-altitude Lahaul-Spiti but pressed for more: a seismic laboratory and data analysis centre in the earthquake-prone Kangra-Hamirpur zone (Seismic Zone-V), two additional air monitoring systems in upper reaches, a weather data centre at Hamirpur, and compact radars for "shadow areas" beyond radar coverage.
Emphasising modern infrastructure as the "need of the hour", he advocated linking all stations to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for precise alerts, benefiting agriculture, hydropower, tourism—key pillars of Himachal's economy—and overall disaster resilience.
The discussions extended to sustainable development, with Sukhu pitching a bio-manufacturing hub leveraging the state's rich plant resources for eco-friendly packaging units, alongside bolstering space science education via "Space on Wheels", AI refresher courses, and advanced modules. Natural farming, land management, and renewable energy-driven smart agriculture also featured prominently, reflecting Himachal's push for green innovation amid recurrent disasters that have claimed lives and infrastructure since 2023.
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Dr Jitendra Singh commended the state's proactive stance, reaffirming the Centre's commitment to expanding meteorological networks in hilly terrains through the Ministry of Earth Sciences. He underscored Doppler radars and AWS as vital for public safety and sectoral growth, promising full support to cover vulnerable zones. The collaborative dialogue signals strengthened Centre-state synergy for resilient forecasting, positioning Himachal as a model for climate-adaptive hill economies.
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