Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr.Jitendra Singh, today launched the new Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Lucknow along with the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath. On the occasion, the Minister said that India’s meteorological infrastructure has witnessed unprecedented expansion over the last decade, enabling more accurate, location-specific and impact-based weather forecasting services across the country.

Addressing the function, Dr.Jitendra Singh said that the progress achieved in weather forecasting and observation systems in the last decade has transformed the manner in which weather services are delivered to citizens, disaster management agencies, farmers, tourists and the aviation sector.

The Minister stated that India had only 17 Doppler Weather Radars in 2014, while several states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Uttarakhand, did not have even a single radar. He informed that the network has now expanded to 50 Doppler Weather Radars and another 50 radars are proposed under Mission Mausam, taking the total to nearly 100 radars over the next two years. He said this expansion will significantly strengthen real-time weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities across the country.

Highlighting advancements in forecasting services, Dr.Jitendra Singh noted that weather forecasting has evolved from broad regional predictions to highly localised and time-specific forecasts. He said that citizens can now access accurate short-range forecasts, including weather conditions for the next few hours, enabling better planning and preparedness. The Minister emphasised that increasing public confidence in weather forecasts is a reflection of the substantial improvements made in observational networks, forecasting models and dissemination systems.

Referring specifically to Uttar Pradesh, Dr.Jitendra Singh said the state's geographical diversity and climatic variability make it one of the most important regions for advanced meteorological services. He noted that Uttar Pradesh is highly vulnerable to floods, droughts, heatwaves, thunderstorms and other extreme weather events, making timely forecasting and warning systems critical for public safety and disaster preparedness.

The Minister highlighted the remarkable strengthening of meteorological infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh over the last decade. He informed that while the state had only one Doppler Weather Radar in 2014, now three are operational and several more are being commissioned. The State's Automatic Weather Stations increased from 59 to 107, Automatic Rain Gauges Stations from 132 to 140, and Lightening Sensors from 0 to 7. He further noted that aviation meteorological services are now being provided at eleven airports across Uttar Pradesh, reflecting the growing scale of aviation infrastructure in the state.

Dr.Jitendra Singh also highlighted the significant expansion of meteorological services in Uttarakhand. He noted that the state, despite its vulnerability to flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides and avalanches, previously had no Doppler Weather Radar. Today, three such radars have been installed and additional systems are being planned under Mission Mausam. The number of Automatic Weather Stations, airport meteorological observatories and lightning detection systems has also increased substantially, strengthening weather monitoring capabilities across the Himalayan region.

Emphasising the importance of the newly declared Regional Meteorological Centre at Lucknow, the Minister said the centre will play a crucial role in decentralising meteorological services and strengthening regional forecasting capabilities. He informed that the Centre will cater to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and adjoining regions, enabling more focused monitoring, forecasting and dissemination of weather information. He also noted that plans are underway for the development of dedicated infrastructure, including advanced Doppler Weather Radars and wind profiler systems, with support from the State Government.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that improved forecasting systems are contributing significantly to disaster risk reduction by providing advance warnings for flash floods, cloudbursts, thunderstorms, lightning, avalanches and other extreme weather events. He stressed that while forecasting accuracy has improved substantially, the effectiveness of weather services ultimately depends on timely action by local administrations and public adherence to advisories and warnings issued by meteorological agencies.

The Minister urged citizens, local authorities and disaster management agencies to make full use of weather forecasts and take early warnings seriously, as also the impact-based warnings available through various digital platforms. He said that weather information is now reaching districts, local administrations and Panchayats in real time and should be integrated into planning and decision-making processes.

The declaration of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Lucknow marks a significant milestone in the strengthening of India's weather and climate services architecture. The Centre is expected to enhance forecasting capabilities, improve dissemination of weather advisories and support disaster management, agriculture, aviation and public safety across the region.

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NKR/JKP/NM

 

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