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Gram Panchayat-Level Weather Forecasting

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October 25, 2024

Why in News?

Recently, Indian Government has launched the System of Weather Forecast at Gram Panchayat Level.

What is Gram Panchayat level weather forecasting?

  • It is part of the Government's 100 Days Agenda and reflects a Whole of Government approach.
  • Launch –  It was launched in 2024, a joint programme of
    • Panchayat Raj Ministry
    • India Meteorological Department (IMD)
    • Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • Aim – It is aimed at empowering rural communities and enhancing disaster preparedness at the grassroots, and will benefit farmers and villagers across the country.
  • Localised forecasting – It is based on gram panchayat boundaries data provided by the Panchayati Raj Ministry.
  • Target – It will be available for nearly all 2.6 lakh panchayats across India
  • Dissemination of information – It will be made through Panchayat Raj Ministry’s digital platforms like
    • Mausamgram of IMD
    • e-GramSwaraj of Ministry of Panchayati Raj
    • Meri Panchayat app of Ministry of Panchayati Raj

What are the features of localised weather forecasting?

  • SMS alerts on weather warning – It will also be sent to Panchayat representatives regarding extreme weather events like cyclones and heavy rainfall, ensuring immediate action to protect lives, crops, and property.
  • Hourly forecasts – It can see data on the current temperature, wind speed, cloud cover (in percentage), rainfall, and relative humidity at the level of gram panchayats.
  • Five-day forecasts – It will be of minimum and maximum temperatures, rainfall, cloud cover, wind direction, and wind speed, and an overall weather forecast.
  • Coverage – It is available at the district and block levels.
  • Accuracy – It currently has the ability to forecast weather events over a 12 km x 12 km area
    • Experimental forecasts – For 3 km x 3 km grids
    • Future objective – To make hyper-local forecasts for 1 km x 1 km areas.

Mausamgram

  • It is a noble initiative aiming at “HAR HAR MAUSAM HAR GHAR
  • MAUSAM” (weather information at each house hold at any time).
  • Developed by – Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)
  • Aim – To provide location specific forecast at Gram Panchayat level.
  • Weather forecasts
    • hourly up to 36 hours
    • 3-hourly from 36 hrs to next five days
    • Every 6-hourly from next 5 days to 10 days.
  • It will be further augmented with the implementation of Mission Mausam.

e-GramSwaraj

  • Launched by – Ministry of Panchayat Raj
  • Objectives - It helps to prepare and execute Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). 
  • It will ensure real time monitoring and accountability.

Meri Panchayat app

  • Launched by – Ministry of Panchayat Raj
  • Objectives – It aims to create a unified mobile governance platform for rural areas, including residents, functionaries, and Panchayati Raj Institution System stakeholders.
  • It seeks to streamline and consolidate various functions and information scattered across different portals into one cohesive mobile platform, thus serving the varied needs of Gram Panchayats.

Mission Mausam is a two-year initiative by the Indian government to improve India's weather forecasting and climate resilience.

How does it help the public?

  • Efficient disaster management – It will also reduce the loss of life and property from the meteorological disasters.
  • Promote sustainable agriculture – It empowers the cultivators to make critical decisions in agriculture, such as planning sowing, irrigation, and harvesting activities
  • Enhance farmer’s livelihood – It can ensure better returns and increase their profits.
  • Strengthen grassroots governance – It improves administration and ensures tailor made approaches in information dissemination.
  • Enable climate-resilient rural population – It enable rural communities to better plan agricultural activities and prepare for weather-related risks.

There are 2.55 lakh village panchayats across the country, with resident populations of a few thousands on average.

References

  1. The Indian Express| Launch of Panchayat Level weather Forecasts
  2. IMD| Mausamgram
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