Aurangabad, July 2:
In 2015, a site was inspected at the Chikalthana International Airport to install radar of the meteorological department. Experiments of artificial rain were also done in the same year. Efforts were underway to install a permanent X-band Doppler radar here. However, the decision remained only on paper.
Marathwada has faced wet and dry drought from 2015 to 2020 resulting in sustainable agricultural loss of the farmers. In the last two years, due to floods in some parts of the region, fields were under water for two to three months after the monsoon. According to information received by the IMD from its Delhi headquarters, the Mumbai observatory provides weather information to all weather departments across the state. But it gets too late for that information to reach the farmers. Meanwhile, heavy rains caused damage to crops and livestock of farmers.
The C-band Doppler radar was installed at the divisional commissionerate in connection with the experiment of artificial rain. But the radar was moved to Solapur. Then two years ago, a private company installed radar to experiment with artificial rain. At the end of the experiment, the private company removed all the radar systems. There is only a skeleton left on the roof of the commissionerate. Meanwhile, IMD scientist Dr K S Hosalikar said that radar is definitely needed for Marathwada. The region has some gap area. The state government and the IMD need to follow up. There is no problem in installing X band Doppler radar for Marathwada in future.
Radar range does not reach Marathwada
I had come to Marathwada during an artificial experiment. We inspected the land around the airport. In some parts of Marathwada, the range of radar does not reach properly. So the meteorological department is also considering installing radar. In the last few years, there was a discussion about installing radar in Marathwada. Global tenders are issued for the radar. Manpower and building space has to be considered. Attempts were made to install radar in the Aurangabad airport area. But as long as the radar is not purchased, we cannot occupy the space, said Dr Hosalikar.