HC seeks appointment of officers to identify sites for weather

The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government and the civic body here to appoint officers to identify sites in the city to set up weather radars for making forecasts for Mumbaikars who face hardships during heavy rains.
The direction was given to State Revenue and Forest Department, Urban Development Department and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice A K Menon was hearing a public interest litigation by advocate Atal Bihari Dubey on the issue. Mumbai was brought to a halt by heavy rains in June.
HC had on an earlier date asked India Meteorological Department (IMD) to consider if it can issue weather reports for Mumbai every four hours during monsoon instead of every 24 hours.

The court was today informed that while four-hourly updates would not be possible, updates can be given every six hours. IMD also told the court that due to the high-rises in the city setting up of weather radars was not feasible.
The court and the petitioner then suggested that the radars can be set up in Gilber Hill, Antop Hill, Sion fort and National Park.
The court asked the civic body, State Revenue and Forest Department and Urban Development Department to hold a meeting and identify some sites within a week.