About politics and managing disasters - Davis Automatic Weather Station (AWS) distribution in Sikkim and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal (Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts)

SaveTheHills has long recognised the critical need for real-time weather data in the Himalayas, where conditions can shift rapidly and with little warning. Since 2016, we have operated Davis Vantage Pro2 AWS units at two locations and have consistently highlighted the need for a denser network of such stations across the mountain region.
Kalimpong and Darjeeling are two adjoining hill districts of West Bengal, while Sikkim—though a separate state—forms a contiguous stretch of the same Himalayan terrain. In fact, according to Google Earth, my home in Tirpai, Kalimpong (West Bengal), is just 2.185 km from Melli in South Sikkim.

So I was rather surprised when I read this article in papers today about the inspection of 67 AWS in Sikkim state:

All 67 Davis AWS units in Sikkim were supplied by the Government—specifically the Department of Science and Technology (DST)—and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is now working with DST to upgrade and overhaul these stations.

In contrast, the hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts have only five Davis AWS, all installed through the independent efforts of NGOs and private individuals. These units are operated and maintained entirely by us, without any government support. 
The locations of AWS:-
1. Kalimpong (operated by SaveTheHills)
2. Kurseong (operated by SaveTheHills)
3. Pedong (operated by Bal Suraksha Abhiyan)
4. Todey  (operated by Bal Suraksha Abhiyan)
5. St Paul's School, Darjeeling (operated by the school)

One Davis Vantage Pro 2 AWS was installed in Gorubathan (W Bengal) by the Kalimpong district administration some years ago but has steadfastly remained defunct thereafter.

Comparative Size and Population of Sikkim and Darjeeling/Kalimpong.

Size of Hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts: 2,478.31 km²
Population of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts: 875,713.
Size of Sikkim: 7,096 km²
Population of Sikkim: 610,577
                                                                                - source ChatGPT

SaveTheHills had also reached out to the district administration for support in expanding AWS coverage in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. A formal letter to the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) was drafted on 30 December 2021 and handed over at the time to a senior party official. The letter is reproduced below:

The letter has not seen the light of day since then and we in Darjeeling/Kalimpong continue to work with only 5 Davis AWS.

If political differences lead to such uneven treatment of regions that share the same geography, face identical hazards, and are equally vulnerable, then our ability to manage disasters becomes severely compromised. This is especially troubling in the Himalayas, where the landscape is far more fragile and exposed to multiple, overlapping hazards.

Praful Rao,
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744