New Delhi, Jan 14, ANB: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in celebrations of 150th Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department (IMD) today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he said the 150 years of the IMD represent not just the journey of the department but also a proud journey of modern science and technology in India. He lauded IMD has served millions of Indians over these one and a half centuries and has become a symbol of India's scientific progress.
According to the Associated News Bureau, Modi said a commemorative postage stamp and coin was also released today about the achievements of IMD. He added that the release of a vision document outlining the future of IMD in 2047, when India will celebrate 100 years of independence. He greeted the citizens on this momentous occasion of 150 years of IMD.
The Prime Minister noted that IMD had organised a National Meteorological Olympiad to engage the youth as part of its 150 years of its journey. He added that thousands of students participated, which would further increase their interest in meteorology.
Modi recalled his interaction with the youngsters a while ago at the exhibition in the venue and congratulated all the youth who were part of the occasion today.
Highlighting that IMD was set up on 15th January 1875, very close to Makar Sankranti, Modi said, “We all know the importance of Makar Sankranti in India’s tradition”.
He added that as a person hailing from Gujarat, his favourite festival used to be Makar Sankranti.
Explaining further, Modi said Makar Sankranti marked the sun's transition into Capricorn and its northward shift, known as Uttarayan.
He added that this period signifies the gradual increase in sunlight in the northern hemisphere, leading to preparations for farming. The Prime Minister noted that Makar Sankranti is celebrated with various cultural expressions across India, from north to south and east to west. He extended his greetings to all citizens on this occasion.
“The progress of a country's scientific institutions reflects its awareness of science”, exclaimed Shri Modi. He remarked that research and innovation in scientific institutions are integral to New India's temperament. Over the past decade, he added that IMD's infrastructure and technology have seen unprecedented expansion, with significant increases in the number of Doppler Weather Radars, Automatic Weather Stations, Runway Weather Monitoring Systems, and District-wise Rainfall Monitoring Stations, all of which have been upgraded. The Prime Minister highlighted that meteorology in India benefits greatly from space and digital technology. He noted that India has two meteorological observatories in Antarctica, named Maitri and Bharati, and last year, supercomputers Ark and Arunika were introduced, enhancing IMD's reliability. The Prime Minister announced the launch of 'Mission Mausam,' symbolizing India's commitment to a sustainable future and future readiness, ensuring the country is prepared for all weather conditions and becoming a climate-smart nation.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the relevance of science lies not only in reaching new heights but also in improving the ease of living for the common person. He remarked that the IMD has advanced on this criterion by ensuring accurate weather information reaches everyone. The Prime Minister highlighted that the ‘Early Warning for All’ initiative now covers over 90% of the population. He noted that anyone can access weather information for the past and upcoming 10 days at any time, with forecasts even available on WhatsApp. He added that the ‘Meghdoot mobile app’ provides weather information in all local languages. Shri Modi pointed out that 10 years ago, only 10% of farmers and livestock owners used weather-related advice, but today, this number has increased to over 50%. He mentioned that lightning warnings were now possible on mobile phones. The Prime Minister highlighted that previously, families of lakhs of marine fishermen were worried when they went to sea, but now, with IMD's cooperation, fishermen receive timely warnings. These real-time updates enhance safety and strengthen sectors like agriculture and the blue economy, he added.
“Meteorology is crucial for a country's disaster management capabilities”, remarked Modi and added that to minimize the impact of natural disasters, the efficiency of meteorology must be maximized. He highlighted that India has consistently understood this importance and is now able to mitigate the effects of disasters that were once considered inevitable. Recalling the devastation caused by the cyclonic storm in Kandla, Kutch in 1998, and the super cyclone in Odisha in 1999, which resulted in thousands of deaths, the Prime Minister said that however, in recent years, despite numerous major cyclones and disasters, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Professor Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) were present among other dignitaries at the event. (ANB)
