In what is arguably a first-of-its-kind, this backward district recently took up an initiative, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to use geo-spatial mapping techniques for integrated development.
Geo-spatial mapping and space technology could be vital in promoting industrial and agricultural sectors apart from helping to chalk out a more effective irrigation plan, said district Collector T.K. Sreedevi.
“We propose to send SMS with soil health information to farmers and promote soil health-based agricultural development,” she stated. An atlas of the district was also released when the MoU was signed recently between Mahabubnagar district and the NSRC, represented by Deputy Director Parsi Diwakar.
“This technology partnership with NSRC will help us monitor impact assessment of Mission Kakatiya (de-silting of water bodies in Telangana), groundwater governance and help mitigate scarcity of drinking water. The elevation data can be used for intra-grid (Mission Bhageeratha that aims at piped water to the kitchens of every house) apart from helping to usher in prudent use of public funds and even monitor the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme,” she explained.
Elaborating on the outlines of the partnership, Dr. Diwakar said the focus would be to provide the district administration specific data on soil fertility and the underground water table levels, including automated monthly updates on surface water bodies and on groundwater depletion.
“We will position our soil maps that will contain detailed information on the soil type, depth of fertile top soil and integrate it with additional data,” he explained.
Although there are agricultural extension officers right down at the mandal-level, mobility was always a constraint, he said. “With data available on a computer screen, on the Bhuvan Geospatial platform, officials can expand their reach and cover more population by sending them SMS.
And with vital information on their mobile phones, more farmers can benefit,” he said.
The scientist explained that the initiative was meant to assist the district administration and line departments with satellite data for better national resources management (NRM). The NRSC and Indian Space Research Organisation map the land use and land cover of the country on a seasonal basis and interpret the data on the Bhuvan portal for use at the State, district, mandal and even village-level, he said.
This was an attempt to leverage geospatial technologies in developing natural resources with an Integrated Planning and Development approach in coordination with line departments. Once this partnership is up and running, the endeavour would be to come up with a model that could be replicated in other districts, Ms. Sreedevi averred.
This technology will help us monitor impact assessment of Mission Kakatiya
T.K. Sreedevi,
Mahabubnagar Collector.
