1,530 defunct rain gauges to be replaced, but experts call for better maintenance
But experts warn better maintenance, not just replacements, is key to ensuring accurate weather data for disaster preparedness and agriculture.
Karnataka was the first state in the country to deploy a large-scale TRG network, which now spans thousands of locations. These solar-powered devices, installed by agencies like Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), water resources department, and India Meteorological Department, have been instrumental in collecting real-time rainfall data.
KSNDMC alone manages 6,533 TRGs — one in each gram panchayat. This data is also used to support farmers through the 24x7 'Varuna Mitra' helpline. However, experts say technical failures and poor maintenance have hampered the effectiveness of the system.
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Agrometeorologist Dr MN Thimmegowda of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, said missing data from faulty gauges can be estimated using nearby gauges.
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But it comes with a caveat. He said: "It is done by extrapolating readings from surrounding TRGs. The efficacy of this method is reduced due to increased local variability of rainfall. This makes it essential to get accurate values instead of relying on averages.
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KSNDMC says the 1,530 TRGs selected for replacement are over 10 years old. The rest of the network is currently covered under an annual maintenance contract (AMC).
Yet, a technical expert familiar with the situation said on condition of anonymity that a much larger number of devices may be dysfunctional. "About 60% of TRGs at the gram panchayat level are currently non-functional," the expert said.
The telemetric rain gauge network was introduced and scaled up by Dr VS Prakash, who was deputed to the state's drought monitoring centre by the central govt in the late 1990s. Prakash later became the founder and special director of KSNDMC.
"I came across TRGs while studying in the Netherlands. That was a time when no one was talking about TRGs in India," said Prakash. "We began with four gauges atop houses of scientists, on a pilot basis.
Real-time data was sent via SMS to DCs, secretaries and the agriculture department."
Within six years, the state had installed a TRG in every gram panchayat — a feat unmatched in India at that time. Later, the network was strengthened further with the addition of telemetric weather stations that record temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and humidity.
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