We will deploy satellites to track illegal migrants, drug trade, wildlife: Himanta

way2barak, March 12: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the State government plans to invest in a “constellation of satellites” to track illegal migrants, drug dealers, and wildlife, other than collecting real time data on vital sectors.

The Assam government intends to put in space at least five small State-specific satellites, each costing about ₹70 crore. These would be launched in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation, and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre of the Centre’s Department of Science, he told the 126-member Assembly during a discussion of the Budget.

These satellites will help us monitor floods and other disasters in real-time, conduct surveillance to track illegal migrants, drug dealers, and wildlife in the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries,” the Chief Minister said.

He said the satellites would also help the State government develop sectors such as agriculture, road network, and education, apart from providing students a research opportunity.

Dismissing naysayers, Mr. Sarma said the State government has been negotiating with the agencies concerned for the Assam-specific satellites for round-the-year data and image collection.