Latest news with #GIS-based
NDTV
03-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Kerala's Idukki Turns To AI, Sensors To Become Most Disaster-Ready Hill District
Idukki: In the lush, hilly district of Idukki in Kerala, where nature's beauty meets frequent danger, authorities are turning to technology for protection. A new high-tech system using artificial intelligence, sensors, and satellite maps will soon help predict landslides, flash floods, forest fires, and droughts in real time -- part of an ambitious plan to make Idukki the most disaster-resilient hill district in the country. The innovative Idukki Disaster Resilience and Information System (IDRIS)-- a first-of-its-kind early warning and planning platform -- will be rolled out this monsoon as a pilot project, said District Collector V Vigneshwari here on Tuesday. The pilot rollout will begin in Adimaly and Rajakkad, two areas often hit by landslides, floods, and rising conflict between people and wildlife, an official release said. IDRIS is the first system of its kind in India, combining real-time data, satellite maps, and advanced tools like Artificial Intelligence to send early warnings for natural disasters such as landslides, flash floods, wildfires, and drought, the release claimed. The system will help local leaders and government officials make better, faster decisions. It does this by using GIS-based risk maps to guide where roads, buildings, and water systems should be built -- keeping both people and nature in mind, officials said. The system is being developed under the leadership of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The system uses artificial intelligence, sensors and satellite maps to monitor and predict hazards like landslides, flash floods, forest fires and droughts in real time, the release said. "Forty-six sensors will monitor soil movement, rain and moisture levels. Forty-eight river gauges will track water levels in key tributaries such as the Thodupuzha River and Pamba. Data will be fed live into a GIS-based control room at the District Emergency Operations Centre. Officials will use this information to send early warnings and guide safer infrastructure planning," it said. Alerts will be sent through SMS, sirens, radio and a mobile app, in Malayalam, English, Tamil, Hindi, and tribal languages. "The development of the IDRIS software and its field-level testing will begin soon," the district collector said. The aim is to transform Idukki into India's most disaster-resilient hill district by combining sensor technology, GIS-based risk layers, and machine learning, she added. Officials said Idukki is a district highly prone to disasters. Since 2000, it has faced over 600 landslides, recurring floods, rising incidents of wild animal attacks, unsafe constructions, and forest fires, they said. Taking all these risks into account, a comprehensive multi-hazard monitoring system is being set up in the district, officials added.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Review pending building map approval cases, streamline process: CM Yogi Adityanath to officials
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday convened a meeting with the Housing and Urban Planning Department and directed a review of pending building map approval cases, pointing out that repeated objections are inappropriate and the process must be streamlined for single-instance resolution. Adityanath emphasized an integrated approach to urban planning, residential safety, infrastructure and digital management. He also directed that the GIS-based master plans for cities, which are yet to be approved, must be sanctioned before this month ends. The CM was informed that corridor one and two of the Kanpur Metro are scheduled for completion by the year-end. He was informed that the first corridor of the Agra Metro is targeted for completion by December 2025, while the second corridor is expected to be completed by 2026. In the same sequence, the process for the Lucknow Metro project, covering a stretch from Charbagh to Basant Kunj (11.165-km), is progressing rapidly. The CM highlighted the need for expanding the jurisdiction of the Lucknow Development Authority and directed the prompt transfer of Jay Prakash Narayan International Centre to the Authority. The centre has been in the midst of a controversy since after BJP formed the government in 2017 and the construction work was suspended. The previous Samajwadi Party government in the state had launched this project and the centre was the dream project of the then CM Akhilesh Yadav. The Chief Minister was also informed that public suggestions on the draft of the Building Construction and Development Bylaws–2025 are being invited from April 16 to May 30, 2025. The final version of the bylaws will be prepared based on the feedback received. While reviewing the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre project in Lucknow, CM Yogi directed that this world-class convention centre—being developed on 32.50 acres at a cost of Rs 900 crore—must be completed within a maximum of two years. He said that this centre will become a landmark identity of New Lucknow. Discussing the current status of the UP-State Capital Region, the Chief Minister mentioned that this project encompasses the districts of Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Raebareli, and Barabanki, covering a total area of 27,826 sq km. He said that there should be no further delay in the preparation of its Detailed Project Report (DPR). The meeting also reviewed the three-month action plan, which includes the implementation of key policies such as the Uttar Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act–2025, Land Pooling Policy–2025, and Building Construction and Development Bylaws–2025. Revised guidelines will also be issued shortly to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects under the Integrated Township Policy. The CM was informed that under the Mukhyamantri Urban Expansion/New City Promotion Scheme, the approved projects will be launched in phases between June and December 2025. Cities covered under the scheme include Jhansi, Bareilly, Aligarh, Saharanpur, Agra (Kakua), Kanpur (New Kanpur City Plan), Mathura (Transport Nagar), Moradabad (Didauzi), Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Lucknow. He directed that all these projects must strictly adhere to timelines and maintain quality standards. He also said that under the GIS-based master plan framework, master plans for 59 cities in the state are being prepared—of which 42 have been approved. The approval process for the remaining four cities—Jhansi, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad-Fatehgarh, and Bahraich—must be completed within the current month. To promote private investment, the Chief Minister emphasized prioritizing projects based on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. He also instructed the launch of special housing schemes for migrant workers and mandated urban standards such as green building certification, solar rooftop systems, rainwater harvesting, and waste management.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Dhamtari district's water conservation initiative bags PM's Award
Raipur: Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh was conferred the Prime Minister's Excellence Award 2023 in the Innovation category for its GIS-based water conservation plan. This multi-layered initiative significantly improved water management across the district. The project involved revitalising existing water structures and implementing targeted interventions that led to the creation of 26 new Amrit Sarovars, 156 rainwater harvesting structures, and expanded agricultural potential across 472 acres. Using GIS technology, customised maps were developed for each panchayat, facilitating data-driven planning and the strategic development of essential water infrastructure at the grassroots level. These efforts, led by then district collector Namrata Gandhi, enhanced water availability and empowered local communities with sustainable water solutions . A comprehensive GIS-based framework, developed with technical support from Upendra Singh Chandel, District Informatics Officer, NIC Dhamtari, transformed the district's water conservation strategy. The framework integrated data from the Jal Doot App, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), INDIA WRIS, and NIT Raipur survey data. The initiative yielded several impactful outcomes, including hydrological mapping to identify water-stressed zones through overlay analyses of aquifer characteristics, land use, and rainfall patterns. It enabled the identification of priority areas for constructing check dams, recharge wells, and rainwater harvesting structures, along with seasonal groundwater analysis to assess pre- and post-monsoon water levels. A GIS-enabled Water Body Inventory—developed using satellite imagery and drone surveys—was created to monitor the health, encroachments, and conservation status of water bodies. Mobile applications were also introduced to crowdsource water conservation efforts during the Jal Jagar Mah Utsav. Real-time progress tracking is now possible through GIS dashboards, ensuring transparency and accountability. Despite these significant efforts, data from the Jal Doot App indicates a declining water table, underscoring challenges such as overdraft due to the cultivation of 60,000 hectares of summer paddy and over 32,000 borewells. As of March 2023, 98 gram panchayats faced spot source failures under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Declining reservoir levels and growing reports of water scarcity remain concerns. To address these issues, a 24x7 JJM call centre was launched in March 2024. Of the 732 complaints received, 663 were resolved, significantly improving public service delivery. Under Gandhi's leadership, the district shifted from infrastructure-centric approaches to behaviour-driven, sustainable practices. These included promoting crop diversification—from summer paddy to millets and pulses—and advocating for rooftop rainwater harvesting in urban and industrial areas. A platform called SATHI was launched to encourage collaboration between civil society and govt, fostering community ownership. A workshop conducted by the CGWB brought together departments such as Public Health Engineering (PHE), Agriculture, Forest, Urban Development, and MGNREGA to map recharge zones and plan interventions. It also focused on linking urban rooftop harvesting systems to alluvial recharge zones and identifying causes of spot source failures, such as water divide locations and poor recharge potential. Industries were mapped against local groundwater levels, revealing widespread non-compliance with CGWB norms. Following the collector's directive, flow meters were installed at water sources, and renovation of 198 rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in industrial areas was initiated. As a result, 136 notices were issued for non-compliance, and 99 industries applied for usage permissions. A single-window system under the General Manager of the District Industries Centre (GMDIC) was introduced to streamline industry facilitation. The Clean Gangrel Campaign in February 2024 mobilised 29 organisations and recovered 35 mini-truckloads of plastic waste. Proposals have been made for an eco-tourism plan and a single-use plastic ban around the Gangrel reservoir. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), South East Central Railway (SECR), and Asian Development Bank (ADB) collaborated to link excavation activities with Amrit Sarovar construction, of which 102 were completed and 12 are underway. Linear road projects also incorporated injection wells in recharge-deficient zones; 66 are planned and 17 have been implemented. Gandhi's approach exemplified convergent governance, scientific planning, behaviour change, and community engagement. Under her stewardship, Dhamtari emerged as a model of innovation in water conservation, earning national recognition through the PM's Excellence Award 2023.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district earns PM's award for GIS-based water conservation plan
Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh has been awarded the Prime Minister's Excellence Award RAIPUR: Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh has received the Prime Minister's Excellence Award 2023 in the Innovation category for its GIS-based water conservation plan. This multi-layered initiative has significantly improved water management across the district. The project focused on revitalising existing water structures and implementing targeted interventions, resulting in the creation of 26 new Amrit Sarovars, 156 rainwater harvesting structures, and enhanced agricultural potential over 472 acres. Using GIS technology, customised maps were developed for each panchayat, enabling data-driven planning and the strategic development of essential water infrastructure at the grassroots level. These efforts, led by then District Collector Namrata Gandhi, improved water availability and empowered local communities with sustainable water solutions . A comprehensive GIS-based framework, developed with technical support from Upendra Singh Chandel, District Informatics Officer, NIC Dhamtari, transformed the district's approach to water conservation. The framework integrated data from the Jal Doot App , the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), INDIA WRIS, and NIT Raipur survey data. The initiative produced impactful outcomes, including hydrological mapping to identify water-stressed zones by overlaying data on aquifers, land use, and rainfall. This helped prioritise areas for constructing check dams, recharge wells, and rainwater harvesting structures, along with conducting seasonal groundwater analysis before and after the monsoon. A GIS-enabled Water Body Inventory—developed using satellite imagery and drone surveys—was created to monitor the health, encroachments, and conservation status of water bodies. Mobile apps were launched to crowdsource water conservation efforts during the Jal Jagar Mah Utsav, with real-time tracking made possible through GIS dashboards. Despite these achievements, Jal Doot App data indicates a declining water table, driven by over-extraction for 60,000 hectares of summer paddy and over 32,000 borewells. As of March 2023, 98 gram panchayats reported spot source failures under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Falling reservoir levels and rising water scarcity remain pressing concerns. To address this, a 24x7 JJM call centre was launched in March 2024. Of the 732 complaints received, 663 were resolved, showing a marked improvement in public service delivery. Under Gandhi's leadership, the district shifted from infrastructure-heavy methods to behaviour-driven, sustainable practices. These included promoting crop diversification—from summer paddy to millets and pulses—and encouraging rooftop rainwater harvesting in urban and industrial areas. A platform called SATHI was also launched to foster collaboration between civil society and government. A workshop conducted by the CGWB brought together departments such as Public Health Engineering (PHE), Agriculture, Forest, Urban Development, and MGNREGA to map recharge zones and plan interventions like subsurface dykes, percolation tanks, and more Amrit Sarovars. It also aimed to link urban rooftop harvesting systems to alluvial recharge zones and address causes of spot source failures, including poor recharge and water divide locations. Industries were mapped against local groundwater levels, revealing widespread non-compliance with CGWB norms. Following a directive from the Collector, flow meters were installed, and 198 rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in industrial areas were renovated. As a result, 136 notices were issued, and 99 industries applied for usage permissions. A single-window system under the General Manager of the District Industries Centre (GMDIC) was introduced to support compliance. The Clean Gangrel Campaign in February 2024 saw 29 organisations collect 35 mini-truckloads of plastic waste. Proposals have been submitted for an eco-tourism plan and a single-use plastic ban around the Gangrel reservoir. The NHAI, SECR, and ADB collaborated to connect excavation activities to Amrit Sarovar construction—102 have been completed, and 12 are in progress. Injection wells were included in road projects within recharge-deficient zones—66 planned, 17 completed. Gandhi's approach reflected convergent governance, scientific planning, and community engagement. Her tenure as Collector made Dhamtari a national model in water conservation, earning the Prime Minister's Excellence Award 2023. Now posted as Deputy Secretary at the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, Gandhi's leadership in Dhamtari was marked by innovation, inclusivity, and a commitment to public service.
