THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) refuses to officially announce the observations of the automated weather stations installed in various parts of the state to predict the weather accurately. Lakhs of rupees have been spent for this. The department is completely dismissing its weather readings. After two years of installation, the equipment in many places stopped working without maintenance.

Last day, Palakkad recorded 44 degrees Celsius at the automated weather station. However, according to IMD, it was 40 degrees Celsius. These two different readings cause confusion.

The data on the device should be recorded for six months after installation. The department had also received a complaint that a technical fault had occurred between Thodupuzha and Palakkad weather stations. It's not fixed. It is reported that wrong reading is recorded here.

Kerala needs 256 automated weather stations. There are only 80. The cost of one is up to Rs 5 lakh.

Automated weather station

*Accurate warning will be given by monitoring the weather change.

*The average temperature and rainfall of the place will be accurately recorded.

*Operation and control via satellite.

*A rain gauge that measures rain.

*Cup counter, anemometer to measure wind intensity.

* Wind vane to understand direction of wind.

*Wet and dry bulb thermometer to measure atmospheric humidity

*A maximum and minimum thermometer to record the maximum and minimum temperature between two periods of time.

*Stevenson screen to protect thermal sensors from sunlight.