Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met with Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who holds multiple portfolios including Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Space, to discuss various 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, Himachal Pradesh has three operational Doppler Weather Radars located at Kufri, Jot, and Murari Devi, with two additional radars in the pipeline. The proposed expansion includes installing two more radars in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, though site selection faces technical issues related to beam blockage. The state's existing IMD observational network comprises 28 Automatic Weather Stations, 64 Automatic Rain Gauges, and 84 Daily Rainfall Monitoring Stations. The expansion plan includes adding 20 Automatic Weather Stations, 24 Automatic Rain Gauges, 21 Automatic Snow Gauges, and one Radio Sonde/Radio Wind system to enhance weather monitoring capabilities.
The discussions also covered the Gram Panchayat-level weather forecast service known as Mausamgram, which provides location-specific weather information for everyday decision-making, particularly benefiting farmers at the grassroots level.
Regarding agricultural development, the meeting addressed the expansion of lavender cultivation under the CSIR Aroma Mission. Phase III of the mission has extended lavender cultivation to Upper Bhamla, Tehsil Baldwara, District Mandi, where 20,000 lavender cuttings have been planted with approximately 150 farmers participating. Initial trials have been successful, and more area is planned for lavender cultivation this season. Under Phase IV of the Aroma Mission, distillation units are proposed to be provided to farmers. The lavender initiative has expanded beyond Jammu & Kashmir to include Nagaland, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh, focusing on connecting cultivation with industry and value addition for greater farmer benefits.
Another significant discussion point was the exploration of establishing a high-altitude sky observatory in Spiti. The proposal is being developed in consultation with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, leveraging the region's high-altitude location and favorable conditions for astronomical observations. The concept envisions a scientific facility that would support research, student educational activities, and create opportunities for astro-tourism and stargazing. The proposal includes combining telescope facilities for scientific studies with smaller telescope-based facilities for tourist stargazing experiences.
The meeting also addressed issues related to the Himachal Pradesh State cadre, including matters arising from the cadre review process, though no final decisions on cadre strength or restructuring were indicated.