In a significant move towards leveraging space technology for governance, the Uttar Pradesh government is collaborating with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch its own satellite.This ambitious project aims to provide real-time information for better management of natural disasters, weather forecasting, and various other developmental activities across the state.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the initiative, highlighting its importance for disaster management and climate-related alerts. The dedicated satellite system is expected to offer crucial, real-time data on potential calamities like floods, lightning, and droughts, which frequently cause significant loss of life and property in the vast state. Uttar Pradesh records the highest number of lightning-related fatalities in the country, with an average of 300 deaths annually, a problem the government hopes to mitigate with timely alerts from the satellite.The state-specific satellite mission will be equipped with advanced features, including lightning-mapping systems and real-time flood monitoring capabilities. This will enable the administration to deliver timely warnings to vulnerable populations, which is crucial given the state's dense population and vast river plainsThis initiative is part of a broader vision to position Uttar Pradesh as a leader in emerging technologies. The government is also looking to formulate a dedicated "Uttar Pradesh State Space Policy," similar to states like Karnataka and Gujarat, to further boost its technological advancements.The collaboration with ISRO's Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad will be pivotal to the project. The Chief Minister has urged the SAC to submit a formal proposal for the satellite system tailored specifically to the state's diverse needsWhile this project is a forward-looking step, ISRO has already conducted a historic test launch from Uttar Pradesh. In a first for the state, a satellite payload was successfully deployed via a rocket from Kushinagar earlier this year, paving the way for more ambitious space-related activities in the region.The move to launch a dedicated satellite underscores a growing trend of using space technology for state-level governance and disaster preparedness, which could serve as a model for other states to follow.
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