Chandigarh, July 24 - The Haryana government is all set to expand its weather monitoring system with the help of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), an official here said Friday.

The state government would set up a wide network of Automated Weather Stations (AWS) in the coming months.

'ISRO has agreed to set up 50 AWS in the initial phase and the IMD would set up another 23. This network of 73 AWS would cover the entire state,' Haryana Principal Secretary (Science and Technology) S.S. Prasad said.

'These AWS will not only equip the farmer with real-time weather information but also help the state plan disaster management better in terms of relief, rescue and long-term rehabilitation,' he added.

Prasad said each AWS costs between Rs.400,000 to RS.500,000 and requires an area of 25 sq metres.

'It also does not require any observer as the data recorded is automatically transferred to a remote location through satellite connectivity,' Prasad said.