(a) whether the Government proposes to set up new Automatic Weather Stations with an objective to provide accurate weather information to people, particularly farmers in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State and location-wise and location-wise; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *44 REGARDING ‘AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATIONS’ FOR ANSWER ON 06TH FEBRUARY, 2019.
(a) Yes Madam. The network of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) helps in monitoring real-time severe weather realized at district levels across the country. These data are also used as inputs to weather prediction models. There is a proposal to set up additional 200 AWS in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) selected for establishing District Agro-Met Units (DAMUs). At the city scale also, efforts are being made to increase the density of AWS to 300 by March 2020.
(b) List of 200 KVKs where additional AWS is planned to be established by March 2020 is given in Annexure.
(c) Does not arise.