Pune, 15th July 2023: Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Earth Sciences, paid a visit to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune on Saturday. During his visit, the minister toured all the laboratories and gained detailed insights into the ongoing research projects at the institute. IITM, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), conducts cutting-edge research in the field of meteorology.
During his visit, Minister Rijiju had the opportunity to witness the functioning of various facilities and research areas within the institute. He observed the operations of the Pratyush supercomputer, explored studies on cloud stimulation, observed lightning phenomena, and learned about other important research activities being conducted at IITM.
Significantly, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in the presence of Minister Rijiju. The first MoU was signed between IITM Pune and Tezpur University, focusing on collaborative research related to the biosphere-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases and energy fluxes, specifically at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The second MoU was signed between IITM Pune and Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital, aiming to promote collaborative research on similar topics at Devasthal, near Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Rijiju expressed his admiration for Indian scientists and highlighted their significant contributions to global research efforts. He emphasized that India plays a crucial role in providing weather information, including systems for tsunami warnings, cyclone predictions, heavy rainfall forecasts, and more, not just within the country but also globally. Minister Rijiju also acknowledged India’s leadership in climate science and its commitment to international climate change protocols.
Furthermore, he shared that plans are underway to acquire a more powerful supercomputer, which will enhance the country’s forecasting capabilities and facilitate in-depth studies on various aspects of climate and weather conditions.
Dr. M. Ravichandran, the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Dr. R. Krishnan, the Director of IITM Pune, along with scientists and officials from IITM, were present during the visit. Minister Rijiju also inaugurated the Indradhanush Patrika, an esteemed publication in the field of earth sciences, during the event.
The visit of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to IITM Pune highlights the government’s recognition of the institute’s vital role in advancing meteorological research and its commitment to supporting collaborative efforts in this field. It is through such initiatives that India continues to contribute significantly to the scientific community and strengthen its position in climate science and weather forecasting.
