Shri Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, chaired the 12th meeting of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) Society in Agartala, Tripura today. The event saw the participation of several ministers including Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia; Chief Minister of Tripura, Dr. Manik Saha; Chief Ministers of Assam, Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Manipur, Shri N. Biren Singh, Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu, and Sikkim, Shri Prem Singh Tamang; Union Minister of State for DoNER, Shri Sukanta Majumdar; Union Home Secretary, Shri Govind Mohan; Secretary of the Department of Space, Dr. S. Somnath; and Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Shri Tapan Deka, along with senior officials from both Central and State Governments of the North Eastern Region.
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During this address, Shri Amit Shah highlighted the significant strides made by India’s space sector over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Amit Shah noted that, after 25 years of the establishment of the NESAC Society, the positive impact of its work is becoming increasingly visible. He encouraged the NESAC Society to further extend its scope of activities across the North Eastern states. He also urged state governments to initiate supporting efforts for these endeavours.
Shah proposed a new initiative for the NESAC Society. He also suggested arranging visits for the headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for 100 students from each North Eastern state with a background in science. He also said this will emphasize, and would spark interest in space and related technologies among the youth. Amit Shah also recommended that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) contribute 60% funding for this initiative. Additionally, the Home Minister urged the state governments to introduce specialized courses in space technology at engineering colleges across the region.
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The Union Home Minister also spoke about the 20 waterways built with the support of NESAC and encouraged the Society to explore the possibility of expanding these efforts. He underscored the need for comprehensive mapping of mineral, oil, and coal reserves in the Northeastern states, which could provide financial benefits through royalties from these resources.
In his remarks on border security, Shri Amit Shah called for the demographic mapping of populations along the India-Myanmar border, particularly in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur, to aid in more effective border fencing and curb infiltration. He stressed the importance of conducting a thorough survey of these border areas.
Further, Shri Shah recommended that NESAC focus on forest area development by utilizing space science. He advocated for comparing old maps with the latest satellite imagery and encouraged collaboration with state governments to implement tree planting initiatives where feasible. The Home Minister also suggested that NESAC prioritize flood mapping in the North Eastern states.
In conclusion, Shri Amit Shah commended the NESAC Society for its effective use of space technology in administration and its positive contribution to the development of the region’s challenging geographical landscape. He also urged the Society to work towards creating a sustainable revenue model for its future activities.
