Berhampur: Hopes for installation of a Doppler radar with indigenous technology at Gopalpur port soared high after a nine-member team visited Gopalpur for a study Thursday.
The expert team comprised three members from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) led by senior scientist VK Anandan and six members from Bharat Heavy Electronics Ltd (BHEL) led by Narasingh Prasad.
The team will stay here for four days and examine various parts and machinery of the radar before submitting a final report in this regard. Two more experts from the Indian Meteorological department (IMD) will join the team in a day or two and will carry out studies on the installation of the radar.
The team will later join in a meeting at Bangalore where a final decision on installation of the radar will take place.
The radar which is capable of sending out early warnings on low-pressure, cyclones and changing climatic conditions will be managed by the IMD, it was learnt.
Once installed, the radar will keep a watch on the changing climatic conditions from Orissa coast to north Andhra Pradesh.
Earlier, a Doppler radar built on Chinese technology was installed at Paradip but it was proved to be less effective. However, the Doppler radar built on indigenous technology by ISRO and BHEL will prove to be a milestone in weather forecasting in the state. This Doppler radar is one of the five radars developed by ISRO.
According to reports, in the wake of the Super Cyclone of 1999 which caused heavy damage in the state, the state government signed a contract with the IMD for installation of several Doppler radars in the state.
As per the contract, the Centre provided the radars and antennae while the remaining work was done by the state government. Accordingly, work on installation of the Gopalpur radar over 3 acres of land at a cost of Rs 22 crore started in 2003.
The work which got delayed due to various reasons is now nearing completion, it was learnt.
The Doppler radar is working as per expectation and soon permission will be given to IMD to install it, Anandan said. PNN