Srinagar, June 24: The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday emphasized the need for utilizing Remote Sensing Technology for equitable development and good governance in the state.
 “The technology can prove highly beneficial for Planning and Development Department to formulate plans and schemes as per ground realities”, he said.
 Omar visited the Department of Environment and Remote Sensing at Bemina here and saw a presentation on the functioning and achievements of the department.
 Omar said the Remote Sensing and Geo-Informatics programmes could contribute to solve problems. “It can enhance the capability of surveying and monitoring the natural resources at low cost and at high speed. The space application programmes can prove as a highly effective mechanism to identify villages and areas requiring government attention in public service delivery system and providing basic facilities in the sectors of education, health, water supply, road connectivity and electrification”, he said.
 Omar said remote sensing could be utilized for creating data regarding urban planning, agriculture yield forecasting, forest cover monitoring, environmental impact assessment, monitoring of water bodies, mapping of high altitudinal eco-tourism sites, wild animal habitat suitability, forest fire risk zonation and development of road network data base.
 He said the Government would take measures to strengthen the Directorate of Environment and Remote Sensing to take best advantage of the modern space technology in the process of development and planning and ensuring good governance in the State.
 He asked the Directorate to prepare pilot projects for Planning and Development Department for comprehensive strategy to broad base and universalize facilities in the sectors of education, health, PHE and road connectivity. “Remote Sensing technology can also be utilized in the conservation and reclamation of forest wealth and scientific planning of urban areas”, he said and asked the Department to make necessary projects for this purpose also.
 He said LAWDA, Revenue, Housing and Urban Development, R&B, Public Health Engineering etc. could also take advantage of the remote sensing technology in finding out solution to various problems and addressing people’s grievances.
 The Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Chief Minister’s Political Advisor, Devender Singh Rana and Principal Secretary, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai were accompanying the Chief Minister.
 Later, Omar interacted with a deputation there who presented a memorandum pertaining to the up gradation of drainage system in the area. He directed the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to look into the demand and take measures for the redressal of grievances.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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