State’s development guided by science

The Satellite Data Analysis and Application Centre of the College of Engineering & Technology in Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur district which was launched in June 2014 has the ability and facility to guide the State government on myriad subjects that affect agriculture, mining, weather, urbanisation, fisheries and the economy of the stakeholders. The centre receives data from satellite on a plethora of subjects that impacts a State’s economy. The centre can give advisory on groundwater levels in any particular region, identification and presence of minerals, rural and urban planning, soil erosion, beach and coastal erosion and on crop suitability advise depending upon soil health and on identification of fishing zones for the benefit of fishermen. This can help in scientific development of a State on multiple fronts. This centre located in ANU in the capital region can better serve both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states which require scientific planning.

The Andhra Pradesh government can make use of the centre's services as it is in a preliminary stage of designing the new capital, location of multiple facilities and development of infrastructure. Andhra Pradesh which has nine coastal districts is subject to vagaries of natural calamities, erosion of coastal beaches and people in coastal villages being vulnerable to onslaught of cyclones and floods. This centre can help in better planning and relocation of villages to save them from frequent floodwater inundation. While coastal districts have prospects for development, it is also subject to dangers affront by the sea and water bodies which can cause misery and destruction.

The centre which has a ground receiving station receives all the necessary data from the satellite coupled with images for analysing the data and transferring the same to agencies which need their services.

ANU College of Engineering &Technology principal Dr P Siddaiah speaking to Vijayawada Hans explained that the centre also helps in tracking cyclones and alerting people in advance. It also gives satellite pictures of land development for optimum utilisation of land and its resources. It is the only university to give such comprehensive services in the State. The centre is prepared to accord such services to any State in India and particularly to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. ANU vice-chancellor Prof. Viyyanna Rao is the moving force behind the development of the centre.

The centre is prepared to help the department of agriculture, horticulture and farmers to scientifically determine soil health of a region, suitability of soil to crops suggested and what crops can be a profitable proposition to farmers so that farming can turn remunerative to farmers. Political decisions should be backed up by scientific planning as otherwise people would tend to incur losses by unscientific demands. For example a certain village may ask for a borewell at a certain point which scientifically is not the perfect location for availability of groundwater. For funds to be properly utilised and for yeilding expected results, the decision should be backed up by a groundwater expert who determines the location based on analysis and viability of groundwater. Many an exchequers precious financial resources have been wasted due to unscientific demands. Same is the case with a crop which is suitable for a particular region. Sometimes farmers do the mistake of asking supply of seeds for a particular crop of a semi-arid region simply because the crop is

getting cent per cent insurance coverage and input subsidy. The satellite centre of the kind in ANU gives precise and profitable advice to farmers so that soil health, suitability of climate match the crop, the farmers wants to raise. When scientific advice is followed, farmers can make farming a profitable proposition and prevent suicides and indebtedness and dependence on agricultural doles by government.

It is high time that the State government and farmers make use of research institutions for the common good of the people and not allow political demands to over-ride a scientific reality. If people in power succumb to such pressures it will be a self defeating exercise which is costly.