The Doppler weather radar, installed here, was dedicated to the nation with Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Dr PK Mishra inaugurating it on Saturday.
A special function organised for the purpose at the Paradip Radar Station was attended by Chief Secretary GC Pati, IMD DG Dr lS Rathore, DG of Odisha Police BK Singh, CRC PK Mohapatra and PPT Chairman MT Krishnababau. IMD, Kolkata DG Dr Devnath Pradhan welcomed the guests.
This Doppler radar would give future weather information ranging from 200 km to 500 km.
After the Super Cyclone hit Odisha in October 1999, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had decided for installation of such a high capacity weather radar station in 10 places across the country. But due to land acquisition problems, construction of building for this Chinese radar had not been possible during the UPA’ two regimes at the Centre. Besides, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy had objected for use of such radars with Chinese technology citing that some possible hidden technology in the radar may pass security information from India to China.
The Indian Coast Guard had recommended for the ISRO-made radars. But due to several problems, the Indian Meteorological Department had to adopt the China made radars.
IMD, Bhubaneswar Director Sarat Chandra Sahu proposed a vote of thanks. Paradip Radar Station Scientist Sapan Das coordinated the programme.