In a bid to strengthen grassroots-level weather forecasting, the Alipore Meteorological Department has launched a programme to install weather observatories in government and government-aided schools across West Bengal. The initiative aims to boost data collection capabilities and encourage students as well.
This regional extension of a central government initiative led by Mausam Bhavan seeks to overcome the infrastructural challenges of setting up full-fledged observatories by turning educational institutions into data hubs. The idea is to empower schools with equipment and training to collect real-time, localised weather data that feeds into India’s broader meteorological systems.
“To ensure accurate forecasts, the key lies in collecting comprehensive, high-quality data from across regions,” said Somnath Dutta, Eastern Regional Director of the Alipore Meteorological Department.
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“But setting up observatories takes land, infrastructure, and time. Schools already have some of the space and community infrastructure we need— so this is a smart and inclusive approach,” he added.
So far, observatories have already been set up in Malbazar, Banarhat, Mathabhanga, Dhupguri and Diamond Harbour Women’s College, with proposals in place from institutions in Barrackpore, Malda, Jalpaiguri and the Sundarbans. Even Kolkata’s Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission and JIS University have partnered with the department to integrate weather monitoring into their campuses.
“This isn’t just about data; it’s about learning and awareness,” said Professor Atanu Bhattacharya of JIS University, adding, “Our students are involved in the data collection process, and it's also helping with academic research in this industrial zone where weather data is crucial.”
The process begins with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Meteorological Department and the school or college. Following this, teachers and office staff receive training on the use and maintenance of the instruments—most commonly, automatic weather stations equipped with rain gauges and wind sensors.
“Once the MoU is signed, there’s no compromise,” Dutta said, adding, “Accurate, timely data must be sent to the IMD, especially during weather emergencies.
While many schools have welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm, several institutions have expressed concerns about the financial burden that comes with equipment upkeep.
Weather officials now stress that financial clarity must be ensured at the time of the MoU to avoid hurdles later on. In cases where automatic weather stations are used, the workload is significantly reduced to basic supervisory roles, which has helped ease concerns.
In addition to the school observatory initiative, the IMD is also pushing a crowdsourcing model, encouraging ordinary citizens to act as weather reporters by informing the department of sudden weather changes in their locality.
“This approach proved valuable during last year’s unpredicted tornado in Malda,” Dutta noted, adding, “Even where we lack observatories, such information helps verify our forecasts or alerts us to anomalies, which we can investigate further.”
At Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission, the installed device is being used not just for scientific purposes, but also to support agricultural planning within the institution.
“We’ve always tracked the weather ourselves for farming purposes,” said Manas Ghosh, Director of the Mission Committee.
“Now, with this advanced equipment from Alipore, we get more precise data— vital for crop management, and also helpful for understanding local weather patterns,” he said.
“The more quality data we have, the better we can protect lives and property,” Dutta concluded.
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