A function for signing the MOU between Department of Land Resources and NRSC for developing the Bhuvan Geoportal – Srishti and the mobile application Drishti was organized on 29.4.2015 in presence of Shri Birender Singh, Hon'ble Minister of Rural Development, in the Krishi Bhavan New Delhi.
The MOU was signed by Dr. Sandeep Dave, Joint Secretary, Department of Land Resources and Dr. V K Dadhwal, Director, NRSC. Dr Jitendra Singh, Hon'ble Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office, Shri Sudarshan Bhagat, Hon'ble Minister of State for Rural Development, Smt. Vandana Kumari Jena, Secretary, Department of Land Resources and Dr. A. S. Kiran Kumar, Secretary, Dept of Space and Chairman, ISRO were also present during the function.
The Government of India has been implementing the erstwhile Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IMWP), now the Watershed Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) since 2009-10. Considering the vastness and diversity of the activities undertaken in the programme, use of space technology is very apt for monitoring and evaluation such a programme.
Accordingly, the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO in partnership with DoLR is designing and developing the required technological interventions for the monitoring and evaluation of IWMP watersheds through the Bhuvan Geo-Web portal -SRISHTI. In addition, a Mobile Application – DRISHTI has also been developed that will integrate field level activities and their monitoring with Bhuvan portal.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) of about 50,000 micro-watersheds in ten states and 50 districts where PMO has advised intensive monitoring, has already been initiated through Bhuvan, at a cost of Rs. 35 crores with a time frame of 5 years.
Development and launching of the web portal includes intensive training and capacity building of the field functionaries who are expected to use this facility. As a part of the MOU, NRSC will provide satellite data, facilitate customized tools on Bhuvan for monitoring and visualization of watersheds, create a customized Bhuvan web page for IMWP, develop a customized mobile application, analyze land cover changes and impact analysis in selected watersheds and conduct trainings.
The State level implementing agencies have already started using the portal.
