Space Based information for planning

Based on the technology, the Orissa Space Application Center through continuous efforts over the years has been able to create a space based natural resource atlas of the state, official sources said today. The data could be fruitfully used in grassroot planning for local area development, Chief Secretary B K Patnaik told the meeting.

It has been decided that to begin with Watershed Development Mission will make use of the data for watershed planning. The Water Resource Department will utilize it in planning mega irrigation projects, bore-well schemes, ground water planning and utilization, deciding location of barrages and linking them with large tanks. The data will also be used in plantation programmes taking into consideration soil, water and moisture features of different areas.

The chief secretary has advised ISRO to develop 10,000 scale maps of tribal areas and remote inaccessible?places, the sources said. In the first phase western and southern districts will be taken up for mapping. ISRO has been advised to ascertain the mineral resource reserve pattern in the districts of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh. A committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of the chief secretary to monitor the space-based information support activities.