Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.

According to official sources, the Union Forest and Environment Ministry on Monday issued forest clearance certificate for setting up a Doppler radar at Paradip.

“We expect operation of the Doppler radar before the next cyclone season,” said Orissa’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) N K Sundaray. He said that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) would set up the radar centre at a cost of Rs 20 crores.

“We have already placed order for the radar which would cost Rs 15 crores. The department would soon start construction of the building required for the purpose,” said S C Sahu, Director of the IMD, Bhubaneswar.

… While participating at a seminar here organized on the occasion of the national day for disaster reduction, Sahu said while analogue radar, now used for forecasting cyclone, roughly indicates the possible places where cyclone would hit, Doppler radar would pinpoint the exact location.

Describing Doppler radar as a boon for the people of cyclone prone Orissa, Sahu said the people could easily be evacuated from the possible place as it could be easily identified before 12 hours.

He said had there been a Doppler radar before 1999 in Orissa, the life of nearly 10,000 people could have been saved.

Sahu also pointed out that Doppler radar could also forecast hail storm and volume of rainfall to occur at a particular place.