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National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology

Mandate

Hydro-met Operations and Infrastructure Division (HOID) is mandated with planning, establishment and operation of national hydrological and meteorological observation network, related instrumentation, observational technique, calibration and telemetry systems for monitoring and data collection.

Functions

a.    Planning and installation of national hydrological and meteorological observational network including upper air atmospheric and ground water studies stations.
b.    Planning and establishment of related hydromet infrastructure including telemetry systems, site office, regional offices, hydraulic structure, etc
c.    Planning and establishment of related hydromet infrastructure including telemetry systems, site office, regional offices, hydraulic structure, etc.
d.    Maintain and operate national hydro-meteorological observations, telemetry systems and related facilities
e.     Establish and operate water quality and sediment sampling station networks including laboratories and related facilities
f.   Operate and maintain communication and early warning facilities installed in different river basins;
g.   Modernize and upgrade hydro-meteorological network stations, telemetry systems, and hydrometric techniques in tandem with changing technologies;
h.   Collection and transmission of hydrological and meteorological data from remote monitoring stations to the Central Database system, HQ.
i.    Establish calibration facilities, development of proper technical specifications for hydro-met instrument and hydrometric technique;
j.    Provision of tailor made services related to weather and climate.
k.   Technical backstopping services to other specialized agencies in hydrometry and operational hydrology and meteorology services

Structure

Hydro-met Operations and Infrastructure Division (HOID) has four Sections as follows:
a.    Office of Technical Maintenance Officer (TMO)- GoI Program
b.    Infrastructure Planning and Management Section (IPMS)
c.    Instrumentation and Communication Section (ICS)
d.    Regional Offices in the East, Central and West

Funcstion of GoI Program- Office of Technical Maintenance Officer (TMO)

a.    Overall administration and management of Flood Warning Program funded by GoI;
b.    Timely transmission of flood warning data/information to designated contact points in India and HQ in Thimphu;
c.    Up-gradation and modernization of Flood Warning Stations and required equipment for data collection and storage in coordination with the division;
d.    Rehabilitation/renovation of existing infrastructure at various field stations as well as construction of new facilities in coordination with division;
e.    Management of GoI budget as per the RGoB procedures; 
f.    Coordinate Joint Expert Team (JET) meetings between Bhutan and India on a comprehensive scheme for setting up flood forecasting (FF) system on rivers common to India and Bhutan. 

Fuctions of Infrastructure Planning and Management Section (IPMS)

a.    Review hydro-meteorological network and infrastructure development plans for implementation;
b.    Provide Technical Sanction to implement the works;
c.    Monitoring and Evaluation of technical works implemented by the division/sections;
d.    Prepare annual plans and budget in consultation with the division;
e.    Prepare drawing, cost estimate of works related to establishment and construction of hydro-met stations and related infrastructures and installation
f.    Tendering of works related to establishment and construction of hydro-met stations and related infrastructures and installation;
g.    Construction and supervision of hydro-met stations and field offices and related infrastructure;
h.    Planning and establishment of hydro-meteorological network including snow & glacier monitoring stations, sediment network, water quality network, upper air atmosphere network, etc.;
i.    Inventory of hydro-meteorological network stations and infrastructures
j.    Maintenance of stations and infrastructures
k.    Technical assistant related to civil works and infrastructure planning and development and planning
l.    Technical backstopping services to other agencies in hydrometery establishment of hydro-meteorological stations and data collection;
m.    Carryout low flow spot measurements
n.    Identification of new hydro-meteorological sites
o.    River cross section survey of hydrological stations
p.    Topographical and bathymetric survey of water bodies (river, lakes/glacier lake etc.) in coordination with other relevant divisions
q.    GIS mapping of hydro-met network stations and infrastructures
r.    Inspection and monitoring of hydro-meteorological stations

Functions of Technical Planning Unit (TPU) 

a.    Planning of national hydrological and meteorological network
b.    Review hydro-meteorological network and infrastructure development plans for implementation
c.    Provide Technical Sanction to implement the works and procurement of goods; 
d.    Monitoring     and     Evaluation     of technical     works implemented by the division/sections 
e.    Technical assistant related to civil works and infrastructure planning and development and planning 

Functions of Survey, Construction & Maintenance Unit (SCMU) 

a.    Prepare annual plans and budget in consultation with the division  
b.    Prepare drawing, cost estimate of works related to establishment and construction of hydro-met stations and related infrastructures and installation;
c.    Tendering of works related to establishment and construction of hydro-met stations and related infrastructures and installation; 
d.    Construction and supervision of hydro-met stations and field offices and related infrastructure; 
e.    Establishment of hydro-meteorological network including snow & glacier monitoring stations, sediment network, water quality network, upper air atmosphere network, etc., 
f.    Inventory of hydro-meteorological network stations and infrastructures  
g.    Maintenance of stations and infrastructures 
h.    Technical assistant related to civil works and infrastructure planning and development and planning 
i.    Technical backstopping services to other agencies in hydro-meteorological observation and instrumentation;
j.    Carryout low flow spot measurements;
k.    Cross section survey of rivers and related water bodies;
l.    Inspection and monitoring of hydro-meteorological stations;

Functions of Instrumentation and Communication Section (ICS)

a.    Installation of hydro-meteorological instruments and communication systems
b.    Operation and maintenance of Hydro-met instrument/equipment and telecommunication system networks, telemetering gauging instruments/equipment and other electronic and electro-mechanical facilities, for real-time hydrological and meteorological data acquisition.
c.    Improve the method and procedures in the operation and maintenance telecommunication system;
d.    Ensuring timely transmission of data;
e.    Formulation of technical specification of hydrometeorological and communication equipment/instrument;
f.    Maintenance and upkeep of Communication Network and telemetry system related to observation systems;
g.    Maintenance of real-time hydrological and flood Early Warning System, 
h.    Prepare electrical drawing and estimate for new building to get technical sanction and supervision of the same as and when required.
i.    Repairs of hydrological and meteorological instruments.
j.    Testing of instruments/equipment before installation
k.    Calibration of field instrument as per the required standard
l.    Instrument evaluations and comparisons.

Functions of Telecommunication & Instrumentation Unit (TIU) 

a.    Installation of hydro-meteorological instruments and communication systems;
b.    Operation and maintenance of hydro-met instrument/equipment and telecommunication system networks, telemetering gauging instruments/ equipment and other electronic and electro-mechanical facilities, for real-time hydrological and meteorological data acquisition. 
c.    Improve the method and procedures in the operation and maintenance telecommunication system. 
d.    Ensuring timely transmission of data; 
e.    Annual maintenance of Wireless sets. 
f.    Maintenance of national hydro-met telemetry and communication network;
g.    Maintenance of real-time Flood Early Warning system,
h.    Standardization of hydrological and meteorological observations and communication equipment/instruments; 
i.    Develop specification of hydrological and meteorological observations and communication equipment/instruments; 
j.    Prepare electrical drawing and estimate for new building to get technical sanction and supervision of the same as and when required. 

Functions of Calibration Lab 

a.    Operation of calibration lab and it facilities
b.    Repair of hydrological and meteorological instruments
c.    Testing of instruments/equipment before installation;
d.    Calibration of field instrument as per the WMO and other international standards;
e.    Instrument evaluations and comparisons;
f.    Provide training for field staff for repairs and maintenance


 Regional Offices in the East, Central and West

Three Regional Offices of NCHM are:
a.    Regional Office (EAST)-to be established
b.    Regional Office –Bumthang – established and operational
c.    Regional Office (WEST)- With HQ, Thimphu -operational

The main functions of the regional offices are:
a.    Administer hydrological, meteorological, sediment sampling and flood monitoring stations and personnel in the region;
b.    Carry out sediment sampling and laboratory analysis data archival and transmitting to head office
c.    Carry out timely repair and maintenance of stations under the region;
d.    Ensure timely transmission of data to HQ in a desired format at predetermined time;
e.    Transmit real time data from flood monitoring stations to National Weather and Flood Warning Center (NWFWC) for weather and flood forecasting and warning.
f.    Provide hydro-meteorological services and products to other agencies of the region in consultation HQ.
g.    Represent Center in local level organization meetings, workshops etc.
h.    Operation and maintenance of GLOF EWS control room and field office
i.    Prepare plan/program/activities related to water quality and sediment sampling and laboratory services
j.    Cross check field data, compilation and filing;
k.    Perform basic maintenance of the equipment and report any problems.
l.    Prepare plan/program/activities related to surface water quality monitoring and to establish monitoring stations along with hydro-meteorological stations