Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met with Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to discuss several development initiatives for the state. The meeting focused on strengthening weather observation and early-warning systems, with appreciation expressed for the Modi government's support of five Doppler Weather Radars for Himachal Pradesh. Currently, the state has three operational radars at Kufri, Jot and Murari Devi, with two additional radars planned for Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, though site selection faces technical issues related to beam blockage.
The existing IMD observational network includes 28 Automatic Weather Stations, 64 Automatic Rain Gauges and 84 Daily Rainfall Monitoring Stations. The proposed expansion includes 20 additional Automatic Weather Stations, 24 Automatic Rain Gauges, 21 Automatic Snow Gauges and one Radio Sonde/Radio Wind system. The Gram Panchayat-level weather forecast service Mausamgram was discussed, which provides localized weather information for everyday decision-making, particularly for farmers.
Under the CSIR Aroma Mission Phase III, lavender cultivation has been extended to Upper Bhamla, Tehsil Baldwara, District Mandi, where 20,000 lavender cuttings have been planted with approximately 150 farmers associated with the initiative. Initial trials have been successful, and more area is proposed for lavender cultivation this season. Distillation units are planned to be provided to farmers under Phase IV of the Aroma Mission, with the model expanding beyond Jammu & Kashmir to include Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
The meeting explored the possibility of establishing a high-altitude sky observatory in Spiti, taking advantage of the region's favorable conditions for astronomical observations. The proposal, being developed in consultation with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, envisions a scientific facility that could support both research and educational activities while creating opportunities for astro-tourism and stargazing. The concept includes combining telescope facilities for scientific studies with smaller telescope-based facilities for tourist stargazing experiences.
Additional discussions covered issues related to the Himachal Pradesh State cadre arising from the cadre review process, though no final decisions on cadre strength or restructuring were indicated. The meeting reflected on how science and technology interventions could address Himachal Pradesh's distinctive challenges, including weather warnings for mountain regions, technology-led livelihood opportunities for farmers, and scientific exploration in high-altitude areas.