.Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that turned off 199 district agro-meteoreological devices. (File Photo) 2 minutes went through Last Updated: Aug 03 2024|1:04 PM IST.The Congress on Saturday alleged that 199 area agro-meteoreological devices, which offered farmers at the block-level free-of-cost weather condition advising companies, were turned off as the NITI Aayog "misstated" their duty to validate the decision.Congress standard assistant in-charge interactions Jairam Ramesh shared a media file on X which declared that the ranch weather advisory offices were actually shut in March this year as the NITI Aayog "overstated" their role and sought privatisation." The India Meteorological Team turned off 199 district agro-meteoreological devices (DAMUs). These agromet units delivered all planters at the block-level free-of-cost weather condition advisory solutions, and important info related to sowing, use fertilisers, collecting as well as stashing plants," he stated.Specialists suggest that while the finances outlay for these systems each year was actually around Rs forty five crore, the perk was actually around Rs 15,000 crore, Ramesh mentioned.The shutdown was opposed by Alliance Minister Nitin Gadkari, and also by several vital stakeholders, featuring the Gujarat-based Affiliation of Agrometeorologists, he professed." RTI documents now show that it was actually the NITI Aayog that suggested that district agromet services be actually privatised and monetised. Actually, the Aayog overstated their duty to justify this decision, saying that the agromet units be actually turned off given that data was actually now automated," he stated." This is not true - agromet staff customised central forecasts for local use as well as adapted records for various other advisories, including those related to making use of fertilisers," Ramesh stated in his article on X." The Aayog's deception and also its lack of nerve in withstanding the Federal government when faced with the Authorities's bad decision-making is illuminative of its job over the final a decade as a mere drumbeater as well as supporter for the non-biological PM," Ramesh mentioned, pounding the public plan think-tank.First Published: Aug 03 2024|1:01 PM IST.