IN order to commemorate the milestone of 150 year of its establishment, India Meteorological Department (IMD) is celebrating the achievements throughout the country in all the sub-office of the department. Director General of Meteorology at IMD Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra was in Raipur for the Stake Holders Workshop organised in the Conventional Hall at New Circuit House in the city on Thursday. While talking to the mediapersons, the Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra informed that IMD was established in 1875 as one of the first scientific departments of the Government of India and the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects. IMD with the mandate of providing public with weather updates completed 150 years of its establishment on January 15, 2024.

 

To commemorate this milestone, IMD is celebrating the event throughout the country in all its sub-offices, over a year commencing from January 15, 2024 to January 15, 2025. The IMD Director General said that a curtain raiser event for the celebration was held on the Foundation Day, January 15 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the event. Thus, IMD is ushering into a new era. With the advancements in science and technology and with the support of all stakeholders, sister scientific institutions and academic institutions, weather and climate services are poised to scale new heights in the ‘Amritkaal’.

 

The glorious history of 150 years of public service by IMD stands as a testimony to the service rendered for the nation building. While elaborating on the pin-point forecast specialities of the IMD, Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the department has played an important role in advance and accurate prediction of extremely severe cyclones like Hudhud and Phailin which alerted the concerned agencies for safety measure and helped in saving many lives with timely intervention. The precise prediction of severe cyclones has brought down the death rate to minimum and even ‘Zero’. He further said that IMD has developed Panchayat Mausam Seva Portal for the farming community. This special portal weather forecast is provided to every Panchayat head and Panchayat secretary to reach out to every village of the country. The farmers will be updated with weather alerts, warnings and medium range weather forecast to help them in planning the agricultural activities.

 

Through accurate forecast, a small farmer with land holding of less than two acres in rain-fed area gains Rs 12,000 annually by using weather information, he added. He also focused on the advantage and benefits of mobile app ‘MAUSAM’ provided to multiple sectors. Upholding the vision ‘Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam’, he said that IMD introduced ‘mausamgram’ which is available through the Mobile App Mausam. It allows the public to view observations, forecasts and warnings for their location through a map or search function using place names, pin codes or coordinators. The forecast on this app is available on an hourly, three-hourly, and six-hourly basis upto next 10-days, covering crucial weather parameters. He further said that IMD will install Doppler Radar and activate in MeT Raipur for pin-point and advance weather prediction. The radar will cover 300 km surrounding area scanning and detecting changing weather conditions, and give specific information to all stake holders in advance.