December 23rd 2024.
The Odisha government is deeply concerned about the frequent natural disasters faced by the state, such as cyclones and floods. In light of this, State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has urged the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to upgrade its existing office in Bhubaneswar to a regional meteorological center. This request was made at a special event commemorating the IMD's 150 years of service.
Currently, the IMD has six regional centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Nagpur, Kolkata, and Guwahati. Minister Pujari stressed the importance of timely weather forecasts in managing disasters, citing the recent cyclone 'Dana' as an example. He acknowledged that the IMD is the sole source of India's meteorological services and plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety, promoting economic growth, and advancing scientific research.
Echoing Pujari's sentiments, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo also praised the IMD for their accurate predictions of adverse weather conditions, including cyclones. He commended the IMD's ability to pinpoint the landfall of cyclones and the eye of a storm, as well as their possible impact. Singh Deo also highlighted the state government's close collaboration with the IMD in preparing for the recent cyclone 'Dana', which made landfall on the Odisha coast.
Special Relief Commissioner D K Singh, who oversees disaster management in the state, praised the IMD for their exceptional work during the recent cyclone. He acknowledged that predicting weather patterns in Odisha is a challenging task, and the IMD's weather scientists have done an excellent job in providing crucial information to the state government.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjaya Mohapatra, a native of Odisha, lauded the state government for becoming a global model in disaster management. He also pointed out that incidents of lightning have emerged as the most significant disaster in the state, causing more deaths compared to other natural calamities. On average, around 300 people lose their lives each year in Odisha due to lightning and thunderstorms.
Mohapatra also highlighted the varying weather conditions in different parts of the state. While places like Daringbadi in Kandhamal district experience low temperatures, other districts like Bolangir and Mayurbhanj face scorching heat during summers. To monitor these weather patterns, the IMD has set up weather monitoring stations in all 30 districts of Odisha and Doppler radars at Paradip and Gopalpur. Three more locations, namely Balasore, Sambalpur, and Bhubaneswar, will soon have this facility.
Manorama Mohanty, the head of the meteorological center in Bhubaneswar, emphasized the significant progress and transformation of the IMD in the last 150 years. She highlighted the use of technology in revolutionizing meteorology and enhancing the IMD's forecasting capabilities. As the event concluded, it was clear that the state government stands united with the IMD in their efforts to protect the people of Odisha from natural disasters.
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