NARL awaiting Centre's nod for radar network

Tirupati, June 29 (UNI) The National Atmospheric Research Laboratory at Gadanki, near here, is awaiting green signal from the Centre to go ahead with a network of ten to 12 radars that would help aircraft fly at desired levels by providing them accurate information on wind speed and weather conditions.

Such information from a network of radars could help save five to ten per cent in fuel costs, NARL Director Dr D Narayana Rao told visiting newspersons today.

He said the Rs 100 crore project was currently before the Planning Commission for approval and it would be installed in institutions and universities across the country before the end of the llth five-year plan. The locations have been identified, he added.

Housing the second largest radar in the world, NARL, formerly known as MST Centre, is a premier centre for atmospheric research to study the dynamics of monsoon.

The centre is also involved in the Indo-French collaboration for launching a satellite--Megatrophiques satellites for study of tropical atmosphere and climate related aspects such as monsoons and cyclones. The satellite, being built jointly by India and France, would be flown onboard a PSLV vehicle.

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