ASSAM FLOATS TENDER FOR SATELLITES TO MONITOR FLOODS

NEWS: Assam has become the first Indian State to float a tender for earth observation satellites

ABOUT

• Project name: AssamSAT
• Announced by: Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Plan: At least 5 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Execution: Private companies will: Design, Build, Launch, Transfer ownership to the State
• Aim: Flood monitoring + disaster management + border surveillance

SIGNIFICANCE

• Flood Management
  • Assam lies in: Brahmaputra flood-prone valley–>Flood levels change rapidly
  • Solution: Satellites will–> Scan same area every few hours, Provide real-time high-resolution images
• Border Monitoring
  • Assam near: Siliguri Corridor (“Chicken’s Neck”)
  • Importance: Connects Northeast India to mainland
• Track: Drug trafficking routes, Poaching (Kaziranga National Park)