Last Updated on October 5, 2021 at 5:20 pm
In Jammu and Kashmir many Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) systems of India Meteorological Department (IMD) are lying defunct and unused since past two years.
In the Anantnag district, 4 AWS are lying unused and main AWS, a few kilometers from Anantnag town is also defunct for last 2 to 3 months, reportedly. Locals of the area said that Anantnag district has only one AWS at Amalgam. They further informed that other AWS, a few kilometers away from Anantnag town, has remained unused for the past few months.
Other AWSs in Anantnag district defunct for past one year are those situated at Amarnath Cave, Chandanwari, Panchtarni and Sheshnag. Besides, all the 3 AWSs at Baramulla give no rainfall reading although they provide the temperature data.
MeT expert said that AWS at Bandipora shows no faulty rainfall reading despite there is heavy rainfall in the area while Automatic Rain Gauge having a temperature sensor installed and located nearby to the AWS show often temperature difference in the range +- 3°C, leading to doubts about the accuracy of Automatic Weather Stations.
Not only in Kashmir, problem of malfunctioning of AWSs is found in Jammu as well. AWS at Chatha in Jammu is also dysfunctional for quite some time.
The AWS in Shopian district shows very low or no rainfall. The AWS in Pulwama district shows no or very low rainfall even during the time of heavy rainfall, reportedly.
The weather expert said that Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) at Khudwani doesn’t record any rainfall, ARG located at Bakore Jammu doesn’t record rainfall properly as well as ARGs situated in Poonch, Rajouri and Reasi districts, ARG at Tral Pulwama gives no rainfall reading. Ganderbal AWS which was out of order was made functional recently.
Muhammad Ashraf, Incharge of AWSs, Jammu and Kashmir said that they are waiting for the supply of spare parts which includes rainfall and temperature sensors from the supplier in Pune. He further said that faults in many of the defunct systems have been corrected but many of them are lying defunct. He further added that once they receive the sensors, problem will be rectified soon.
