Installing a Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) station for the natural calamities-prone district of Baleswar has become a distant dream. Even after 11 years the project is hanging in balance.
According to reports, the decision for establishing a radar weather forecasting facility here along with three others in the State was taken way back in 2006 by the Central Government keeping view the vulnerability of the coastal district where cyclones and floods are the regular visitors, to alert the residents beforehand.
The project which began in other places including Paradip and Gopalpur have already installed the radars and the establishments are operational.
In the absence of the sophisticated radar, the weather forecast data is being obtained from the radar installed in the DRDO, Chandipur.
Although in August 2013 the work for construction of a multi storeyed building began and target fixed to complete by end of 2014 yet the building now stands incomplete. Reports also added that the project began with an estimate of about Rs 4.5 crore and the work was undertaken by the PWD for the four storeyed building at Hindigaon in Chandipur.
Even after 6 years, the building is incomplete. In the meantime the project has faced both time and cost overrun.
However , an official of Met department said that the radar would be installed in the establishment after completion of the building.