Paradip: Odisha’s first Doppler radar station here in Jagatsinghpur district is in a neglected condition with grass and shrubs growing all around it, a report said Monday. The seven-storeyed building of 39 metre in height built at a cost of Rs 20 crore is in a rickety condition and needs urgent repair and makeover. The Doppler radar built in China appears from a distance like a giant football placed on top of this seven-storied building. It helps in predicting the formation of cyclonic circulations five days before the calamity.
However, the building is lying in bad shape due to a lack of proper upkeep and timely facelift. Wild grass and shrubs have taken over the building including the road connecting to the station. The asbestos roof on the parking shed has broken while its steel railings have corroded. The glass panes of the building have broken in most places while the fiber coverings have peeled out. Much of the external and internal infrastructure is in a dilapidated condition. The Doppler radar station was constructed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The construction style of the station, its modern workmanship, and its height were used to draw visitors from the state and outside. Schools used to conduct excursions to the station while many Odia films and albums were shot here due to their scenic location. The establishment of the Doppler radar station was necessitated after Super Cyclone-1999 brought widespread devastation in Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts. The calamity caused extensive damage as there was no system in place in the country to forecast such calamities in advance. Realising the gravity, the then Union government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched efforts to get advance warning about any approaching calamity and announced the establishment of five Doppler radar stations across the country under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Among the five radars, the first Doppler radar was decided to be established near the lighthouse at Paradip port town in Jagatsighpur district of Odisha. The construction of the Doppler radar station got delayed following a change in government at the centre. It was initially said that the state-owned Bharat Heavy Electronics Ltd (BHEL) will install the Doppler radar. Later, the Union government changed its decision in 2009 and decided to install a Chinese-made Doppler radar. The radar arrived in Paradip from China in 2010. However, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Chandipur in Balasore district advised not to install the radar as it might be used for surveillance in our country.
As a result, the installation of the radar was put on hold for five years. However, the radar installation finally received approval in 2014 after a change in government at the Centre. The state-owned BHEL checked the radar and stopped some signals beaming following which radar was installed at the station in Paradip and unveiled at a function, November 21, 2015.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had installed a small radar in the prohibited area of Paradip port town before the installation of the Doppler radar. The small radar was of very less significance as it could then forecast only rain, wind speed, and temperature and has been closed since 2012. When contacted, radar officer (in-charge) Dhanish K said that the Doppler radar could make forecasts about any approaching cyclonic storms five days before their occurrence and make a review of 500 km radius of the sea. He said he has informed the CPWD and concerned officials about the rickety condition of the building for the last two years and this year the repairing might take place.
