History of IMD Goa

Meteorological Centre Goa is situated in its own premises in North Goa District of Goa state and located at Lat 15° 29’ N and Longitude 73° 49’ E. Goa is a small and beautiful state known for tourism . Goa has two districts namely North Goa and South Goa which are divided into 11 Talukas, having a total area of 3702 Sq Km. Goa is situated along Konkan Coast of India, has a coast line of 131 km. It has a partly hilly terrain with the Western Ghats rising nearly 1200 meters. There are two main rivers of Goa which are Mandovi and Zuari. Goa receives Most of rainfall during June to September with an average of 250 cm.

Goa was Portuguese colony till 19th Dec 1961 when Indian Military Forces liberated it with the help of Freedom Fighters and territory was incorporated into Indian Union. On 30th May 1987 Goa was granted a full fledged statehood.

This office was earlier known as “SERVICO METEOROLOGICO DO ESTADO DA INDIA” under “SERVICO METEOROLOGICO NACIONAL”, LISBOA, PORTUGAL which was established at Lisboa, Portugal on 29 August 1946. (As a result of restructuring, its name has been changed and is now “Instituto de Meteorologia”, Lisbon, Portugal. The Meteorological Service started in Goa immediately after it started in Portugal.) Later it was known as “Goa Observatory” in the middle of the year 1963 as a part of India Meteorological Department. Same was declared as “Meteorological Centre” from Aug 2007.

Meteorological Centre Goa has a sanction staff strength of 43 which includes 7 officers for various units. There is a network of 02 departmental Observatories at Panaji and Mormugao and 08 Out post Rainguage stations (Mapusa, Pernem, Valpoi, Ponda, Margao, Canacona, Qupem and Sanguem ) in Goa.

Important achievements/ Major Landmarks:

Dec 1961	The existing Portuguese Meteorological office “ Servico Meteorologico Do Estado DA India” merged with IMD after libration of Goa.
1969	Establishment of RS/RW Unit at Goa.
Jan 1976	New RS/RW bldg completed at Goa and X-Band Radar shifted to New bldg.
June 1978	Cyclone Detection Radar installed at Goa in the campus of NIO.
Dec 1981	Ist Scientific Expedition to Antarctica launched from Goa., in which IMD participated regularly.
1983	ORV Sagar Kanya, a multidisciplinary Research Vessel having Met facilities on board, came to Goa with IMD team on board.
Feb 1995	CWDS installed at Police HQ Panaji.
1996	Old X-band Radar was replaced by new EEC X-Band Radar.
1999	Seismic Unit upgraded and BBS was installed.
2000	New CDR bldg at Goa Observatory campus completed for installation of CDR.
May 2002	CDR transported from Kolkata installed at Goa in the new bldg.
May 2003	RS/RW upgraded with SAMEER.
July 2003	Ist Internet connection commissioned at station from BSNL.
Nov 2003	New office Vehicle make “Qualls” provided.
Nov 2003	6^th All India IMD sports meet held at Goa during 26^th to 29^th.
Jan 2006	DIWE installed in Surface unit.
Feb 2007	Automatic Weather Station (AWS) installed at Panaji.
Aug 2007	This office declared as “Meteorological Centre”.
Dec 2007	Seismic unit further upgraded with Real Time Seismic Monitoring System (RTSMN).
Jan 2008	T/P CCT replaced by 64KBPS High Speed Data Terminal (HSDT).
Feb 2008	IVRS installed at the station.
Dec 2008	Old Cyclone detection Radar dehaulaged.
May 2009	RS/RW upgraded with G P Sonde.
June 2009	Automatic Radiation Station (ARS) installed at the station.
July 2009	New office vehicle make “INNOVA” arrived.
Sep 2009	Ext. / Modification work for DWR bldg started.
Nov 2009	64KBPS (HSDT) upgraded by 256 KBPS VPN Circuit.
Apr 2010	Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) Equipments arrived.
May 2010	Issuing of Local Weather Forecast started.
Dec 2011	Ist Hindi Workshop held and inaugurated by Shri N.Y. Apte DDGM RMC Mumbai.
Jan 2012	Automatic Weather Station (AWS) installed at Mormugao.
Jan 2012	New bldg of M. C. Goa (DWR) inaugurated by AVM (Dr.) Ajit Tyagi DGM New Delhi.
Jan 2012	Website of M. C. Goa launched by AVM (Dr.) Ajit Tyagi DGM New Delhi.
Jan 2013	Ist ACR/AMR/ATR Meet held at Goa at “International Centre Goa”.
May 2013	Existing GP Sonde replaced by New GP Sonde.