Many space applications not being fully utilised: Minister

ISRO and the Department of Space have wide range of applications to offer but many of them are not being fully utilised, Union Minister for Atomic Energy and Space Jitendra Singh said today.
These applications, which went beyond the confines of simply launching of satellites or rockets, were unfortunately, either not fully understood or not fully utilised, he said during an interaction with Assam Science and Technology and IT Minister Keshab Mahanta here.
Singh explained to Mahanta how in the Ministry of DoNER (Development Of North Eastern Region), he had introduced the use of satellite imaging not only for survey of roads and building construction but also for preparation of utilisation certificates with fool-proof accuracy, an official release said.

This helps in saving time and also reduces the possibility of any manipulation or manoeuvring, it added.
Both the ministers discussed issues related to the priority projects of the Assam government in the fields of Science and Technology and IT.
Mahanta expressed Assam government's keenness to bring the state at par with other states of the country in terms of application of science and technology, remote sensing and satellite technology.

The Assam Minister said A S Kiran Kumar, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation, had visited the state and discussed various applications of science in governance and development projects.
Singh said he had also suggested to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal that the services of Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre (ARSAC) should be utilised to a greater extent in the field of urban development and construction of smart cities.

The NESAC (North-Eastern Space Application Centre) in Shillong can also be asked to collaborate with the government's initiatives in Guwahati, he said.
Mahanta submitted a memorandum for establishing Centre of Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Assam.
Singh said he would process this request and ask the scientists in the Department of Space to collaborate with the state government for working out the feasibility of this proposal.
The Union Minister said with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special focus on the Northeast, the region should also be benefited by the advancement through satellite communication, remote sensing and capacity building.