Weather stations on the anvil

Imphal, Jan 8 : To provide daily weather report from all corners of the State, Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs) are to be set up at all the district headquarters very soon.

Station Officer of Meteorology Department K Meghachandra informed that the Centre has already sanctioned opening up of an Automatic Weather Station each at all nine district headquarters of the State.

''Since we have our on weather station in Imphal West, the AWSs would be set up at the district headquarters of the remaining eight districts namely Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel'', Meghachandra disclosed.

A team of scientists from Indian Meteorology Department (IMD(, which is under the Minister of Earth Sciences would be visiting the State very soon to conduct a final survey for installation of the apparatus, Meghachandra informed, while speculating that these apparatus are likely to be installed within the next couple of months.

The survey and installation works have been delayed as a consequent of the grave law and order situation in the State, Meghachandra said, adding that the proposed AWSs, which would occupy only a small place, would be set up either at the office complex of the Deputy Commissioners or the District Police Headquarters from safety and security point of view.

Explaining that these AWSs would automatically provide detailed daily weather reports from every corner of the State and the same would be recorded at the Imphal station via Satellite, the Station Officer informed that the collective weather report would be made available to the public after the final installation of the AWSs.

Installation of AWSs would give tremendous benefits to agricultural scientists, farmers, veterinary doctors and a number of Life Science, Earth Science and weather researchers, he added.