Shillong: The North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) is playing an increasingly significant role in strengthening India’s border security while accelerating development across the Northeast through space-based technologies, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.
Reviewing NESAC’s ongoing programmes at its headquarters in Umiam, Meghalaya, the minister said the Centre is carrying out geo-spatial mapping of the India-Myanmar international border and inter-state boundaries in the Northeast, alongside projects covering agriculture, disaster management, water resources, forestry and governance.
Describing NESAC as a vital link between India’s space programme and grassroots development, Singh said the institution has emerged as a strategic partner in supporting both national security and regional development by harnessing satellite and geospatial technologies.
Officials informed the minister that NESAC is currently implementing nearly 130 space application projects across the eight northeastern states.
Of these, around 50 projects have been completed, while 78 are under implementation in sectors including agriculture, forestry, urban planning, geosciences, satellite communication, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications, disaster management and capacity building.
With floods affecting the Northeast almost every monsoon, Singh directed NESAC to further enhance the accuracy of its flood early warning systems to provide more location-specific and timely alerts to vulnerable communities.
He also urged the Centre to collaborate with state governments in replicating successful rainwater harvesting models, including the initiative at the Ramakrishna Mission in Cherrapunjee, to strengthen long-term water security across the region.
Highlighting bamboo as one of the Northeast’s key economic resources, the minister called for closer coordination between NESAC, the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) and state governments to strengthen bamboo resource mapping and promote value addition.
Singh also stressed the strategic importance of geospatial technologies in sensitive border areas and asked NESAC to strengthen its ‘ManzilNE’ GeoTourism dashboard by involving private tourism stakeholders.
He further advocated deeper collaboration with central ministries, state governments, research institutions, start-ups and industry to accelerate the adoption of space technologies.
He said institutions like NESAC would continue to play a crucial role in improving governance, disaster resilience and sustainable development in the Northeast.
(IANS)
