CM meets Central minister, seeks advanced weather infra to curb climate disasters

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the Central Government to equip Himachal Pradesh with advanced weather forecasting infrastructure to combat the increasing frequency of natural disasters triggered by climate change.

During his meeting in New Delhi with Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Sukhu requested the installation of Doppler weather radars and 150 automated weather stations across the state to ensure early and accurate disaster warnings. The Union Minister assured that the demand would be addressed on priority.

Highlighting Himachal’s fragile geology and rising climate vulnerabilities, Sukhu said the state had suffered enormous economic losses due to floods, landslides and erratic weather patterns. “Setting up these systems before the next monsoon will greatly enhance our preparedness and response capabilities,” he said, expressing gratitude for the Centre’s earlier approval of a Doppler radar for Lahaul-Spiti.

The Chief Minister emphasised integrating weather data with national early warning networks to ensure timely alerts. He also called for establishing a seismic laboratory and data analysis centre in the Kangra-Hamirpur region, which falls under the high-risk Seismic Zone-V.

In addition, Sukhu sought two air monitoring systems for high-altitude areas, a weather data centre at Hamirpur and compact radars for shadow regions. He further proposed setting up a bio-manufacturing hub and plant-based packaging units to promote eco-friendly industries and sustainable development, alongside initiatives in natural farming, land management and renewable energy-driven smart agriculture.