Geographic data now on web

“With this, Karnataka will become the first State in India to have web-enabled  geographic data. Any one from any where can access the data and acquire information on the geographical attributes of the State, at the click of a mouse,” disclosed the Karnataka Science and Technology Council coordinator, Vijay. He was speaking at the workshop for district-level officers on web-based management of geographical data, here on Thursday. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa will launch the poral on November 1.
The ambitious project to upload the geographical data of the state on the internet has been taken up under Natural Resources Data Management System, a programme sponsored by the Union government.

The  project, jointly managed by Union Science and Technology Department and the State government has secured approval in 2007 itself. The primary objective of the programme is to ensure that the information is available to the needy and that too easily.

Statewide programme

Vijay said that Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has instructed to conduct workshops for the officers on this new initiative and accordingly, the Council has been conducting the workshops across the State. “Three such workshops have already been held and the this is the fourth in Kolar. It has been planned to conduct such programme in all the districts by December 12,” he revealed.

Within the framework of providing information on the geographical diversity of a particular area, attempts have also been made to make the search, a demand-based one.  Information has been collected on irrigation system in ten selected Gram Panchayats of Udupi district. Similarly, the information on utilisation of sites in Mysore is being consolidated. A comprehensive information on the geographical attributes of both rural and urban areas will be made available at a time, he elaborated.
Efficient management of infrastructure and resources is a pre-requisite for sustainable development. While no proper information on geography of a particular location is available at the local level, the data available on a larger scale are not that much useful.

Resource mapping

With a view to set-right this anomaly, specialised task such as “Resource Mapping” is being conducted. “A clear picture of the map of resources will aid in formulating a development strategy and arrive at practical decisions. Providing the information to district-level officers goes a long way in effective implementation of various projects and thus propel development. The officers of the Zilla Panchayat should therefore, realise the importance of the project and cooperate in this behalf,” he said.

Development strategy

Vijay suggested that the officers under the leadership of Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer should chalk out a plan for development on the basis of the resources available in the district.

The system will be of much application in times of formulating projects for supply of drinking water, infrastructure development, election-related data, and administrative coordination during outbreak of epidemics and similar contingencies.

Zilla Panchayat president N Srinivas, vice-president Naveeda Khanum, members Hanumanthappa, Mangamma, Muniswamy, Chief Executive Officer G V Rangarao and others were present.