(a) whether the Government proposes to map the topography of the
Himalayan region for gathering high precision data;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government would consider mapping the available water
resources of the region through such exercise;
(d) if so, whether this data would be made available to civil authorities
to plan development activities in far flung areas; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF EARTH SCIENCES (ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Survey of India have generated topographical maps
on the scale of 1:2, 50,000 and 1:50,000 for the entire country, including
Himalayan region. Some parts of the region are also covered on 1:25,000
scale. In addition, Indian Satellite data from Cartosat-I has been used
to generate digital surface maps of the country, including Himalayan regions.
(c) to (e): Central Water Commission (CWC) and National Remote Sensing Centre
(NRSC) have undertaken a study of “Inventory and Monitoring of Glacial Lakes/
Water Bodies in the Himalayan Region of Indian River Basins†during the Eleventh
Plan period and a Report on “Inventory of Glacial Lakes/Water Bodies in the
Himalayan region of Indian River Basins†for more than 10 hectare area has
been prepared using satellite images. Monitoring of Glacial Lakes/Water Bodies
is being done using remote sensing data during monsoon period on monthly basis
from June, 2011. In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has
awarded a project to Space Application Centre to map the snow cover and glaciers
of Indian Himalayan Region. The first phase of the mapping was completed in
2009 and report has been made public. The second phase of the assessment is
ongoing. Further, the wetlands were mapped for entire country, including
Himalayan regions, at 1:50,000 scale under National Wetland Inventory and
Assessment Project, using Indian Remote Sensing satellite data. In addition,
using Indian Remote Sensing satellite data potential areas of ground water
occurrence have also been mapped at 1:50,000 scale in Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. Under the recently
approved National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy, data outside the
negative list will be available to civilian authorities for developmental
activities.