Telangana: Govt launches service to provide localised weather forecasts at village level

Hyderabad: On October 24, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), launched an initiative to provide localised weather forecasts at the gram panchayat level.

The event, led by Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marked a step in empowering rural communities with five-day daily and hourly weather forecasts, benefitting farmers and residents nationwide.

The initiative, part of the government’s 100-day agenda, is designed to support grassroots governance and sustainable agricultural practices, helping rural areas build resilience to environmental challenges through improved disaster preparedness and data-driven decision-making.

Accessible forecasts through digital platforms

Gram Panchayats can now access these weather forecasts via the ministry’s digital platforms, including e-GramSwaraj, the Meri Panchayat app and Gram Manchitra.

These platforms provide timely updates on temperature, rainfall, wind speed and cloud cover, helping farmers and panchayat representatives make critical agricultural decisions, such as when to plant, irrigate or harvest crops.

Enhanced preparedness against natural disasters

Localised weather forecasts also improve disaster preparedness at the village level.

Panchayat representatives will receive SMS alerts for extreme weather events like cyclones and heavy rainfall, allowing them to act swiftly to protect lives, crops and property.

“This will certainly help people at the grassroots level. As of now, the weather forecast is limited to TV channels and newspapers. Uneducated masses in villages are often unaware of these alerts. This initiative will help people plan day-to-day activities as well as farming operations. For instance, if there is a rain forecast, a farmer can delay pesticide application or if heavy rain is forecasted, they can avoid irrigation,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather.

Focus on localised disaster preparedness

In addition to enhancing agricultural planning, the initiative aims to improve disaster response at the village level, especially during extreme rainfall events. Accurate and timely local forecasts can help communities prepare for potential flooding.

“Panchayat and block-level weather forecasts are really useful for better local planning and disaster preparedness. In particular, these forecasts can help villages prepare for flooding due to extreme rainfall, which can cause breaches in local lakes or rivulets. Increasingly, lightning strikes are a leading cause of natural deaths among farmers working in fields. Hopefully, this ambitious plan addresses this issue as well,” commented Rajanikanth Poolla, a weather enthusiast.

Training workshop for panchayat representatives

To support the effective use of the new tools, a training workshop titled ‘Weather Forecasts at the Gram Panchayat Level’ took place on October 24.

More than 200 participants, including Panchayati Raj representatives and officials, attended the workshop. The training equipped local officials with the skills needed to use weather forecasting resources effectively, empowering communities to make informed, climate-resilient decisions.

Government’s commitment to climate-resilient villages

With changing weather patterns affecting agricultural livelihoods, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and IMD aim to equip rural India with essential resources for a climate-resilient future. The expansion of sensor coverage by IMD ensures that even the most remote villages have access to precise, localised forecasts, aiding in sustainable development and improved infrastructure planning.