Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government is considering the use of satellites to map the entire available water resources, forest cover and mineral deposits of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is sharing satellite images of agriculture, water resources and environment with the concerned Ministries; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND I THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY):

(a)&(b) The data from Indian Remote Sensing Satellites is being used to map the water resources, forest cover and mineral
deposits of India, as given below.
Water Resources: The project on ‘India – Water Resources Information System’ is jointly carried out by the ISRO/DOS and Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources. The objective of the project is to provide information on water resources of the country for developmental planning using satellite and collateral data. Web based ‘India – Water Resources Information System’ has also been launched.
The wetlands, including surface water bodies, were mapped for entire country at 1:50,000 scale under ‘National Wetland Inventory and Assessment’ project, at the behest of Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Under the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, the potential areas of ground water occurrence are being mapped at 1:50,000 scale for entire country in phases, at the behest of Ministry of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation.
Forest Cover: Since 1987, Forest Survey of India (FSI) prepares biennial forest cover maps at 1:50,000 scale of the country using Indian satellite data. The present report pertains to twelfth cycle of forest cover mapping as India State of Forest Report 2011.
Mineral deposits: ISRO/ DOS and Geological Survey of India (GSI) are carrying out National Geomorphological mapping at 1:50,000 scale using Indian satellite data. These maps help to delineate the potential mineralized zones.

(c) Yes, Madam.

(d) Pre-harvest acreage and production estimation of six major crops and Information on agricultural drought during the kharif season is shared with the Ministry of Agriculture. The maps prepared under National Wetland Inventory and Assessment is shared with the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The maps prepared under Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission are provided to the Ministry of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation.
The maps and information generated under Snow and Glacier Studies, Coastal Zone Studies, Biodiversity characterisation at landscape level is shared with Ministry of Environment and Forests.

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