The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tripura government to establish a new Doppler weather radar station in South Tripura, officials said.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Manik Saha and IMD Director General Mrityunjoy Mahapatra. Tripura currently has one Doppler radar station located in Agartala.
Mahapatra said the new radar system will be set up at Belonia in South Tripura within the next two to three months and is expected to significantly enhance the state’s weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities.
Tripura frequently faces weather-related challenges, including floods and landslides during the monsoon, extreme heat in summer and severe cold spells in winter.
According to Mahapatra, the additional Doppler radar will improve the accuracy of weather warnings and forecasts for the region.
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He also said that three more Doppler radar stations are planned for Silchar, Aizawl and Imphal as part of efforts to strengthen weather observation infrastructure in the Northeast.
State Revenue Secretary Brijesh Pandey said the Tripura government has allotted two acres of land free of cost at Belonia for the project.
He added that the state has requested the IMD to complete the installation by the end of the current financial year, a timeline to which the department has agreed.
Pandey also said the state government has decided to transfer three weather stations currently operated by the Public Works Department (Water Resources) to the IMD to ensure better management and data coordination.
