In a significant advancement for weather forecasting and disaster management, Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, inaugurated a cutting-edge Doppler weather radar station at Jamadarpali in Sambalpur.
The inauguration, conducted virtually, included notable figures such as Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh, Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Rajya Sabha MP Manmohan Samal, local MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, and OSDMA Managing Director Rajesh Prabhakar Patil.
This radar station was developed through a partnership between the IMD and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) to address a significant geographical gap. While the radars in Paradip and Gopalpur primarily focused on coastal areas, the new facility in Sambalpur will enhance forecasting for western and interior parts of Odisha. The sophisticated radar is designed to accurately monitor thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, squall lines, depressions, and cyclones.
About 10 to 12 districts, including Sambalpur, Boudh, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Nuapada, Balangir, and Kandhamala, are set to benefit from its advanced tracking features. Furthermore, the installation will play a vital role in the security and water management of the Hirakud Dam reservoir, as well as improving navigational safety for Jharsuguda Airport.
The launch signifies the successful culmination of a project that encountered several administrative challenges. Initially proposed in 2015-2016 with land earmarked at Jamadarpali, the project faced delays and was left incomplete for nearly seven years, with the building becoming neglected before finally receiving the necessary momentum for completion.
