Rainfall mapping: IMD plans 1,350 automatic rain gauges

The study will also enable the department to have a clear idea of the drought-prone areas of the country and will provide invaluable data for resolving the problem. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 35 crores and will see a higher investment in the forthcoming year to replicate the model in other places.

As of now a total of 200 such stations have been already set up across the nation,of which 67 are operational in Maharashtra. “The project which began four months back,has already seen us install these gauges in Maharashtra and also in Orissa. The main aim of the department is to install a total of 1,350 such gauges by October this year. We also plan to replicate the same in the forthcoming year in other remote hilly and inaccessible places by setting up another 2,000 such stations,” he said.

The automatic rain gauge station collects data and processes the same in a data logger,which is connected to it. This data is then bounced off global satellites and collected at the IMD centre in Pune. From here it is sent to the forecasting centres across the country.

“The data logger links up with the INSAT-3A satellite from where every hour the same is transferred to our centre in Pune. In addition to collecting rainfall data,the station can also be equipped to collect information regarding temperature,humidity etc. so that it can provide a comprehensive data readily,” said Vashistha.

The cost of setting up one such station fully along with the satellite link-up is Rs 3 lakh. “The stations will be maintained every four to six months as they’re self accommodating . The only maintenance involved is keeping the surroundings of the station clear and free of grass and other such natural elements,” said Vashistha .

67 stations installed in state
200 stations across India
1350 Stations to be installed by October this yea
2000 stations to be installed by 2011
Rs 35 Cr cost of project