AP govt to create integrated information highway

Programme will integrate farm, revenue, irrigation depts and AP State Remote Sensing Applications Centre

The Andhra Pradesh government is considering implementation of Harita (Harmonised Information of Agriculture, Revenue & Irrigation for a Transformation Agenda) as part of creating information-highway in the state.

According to an official press release, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the programme would be implemented involving agriculture, revenue, irrigation departments and AP State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (APSRAC). A pilot project would be implemented in three districts at a cost of Rs 30 crore.

The programme aims to provide integrated information services through standardisation of data, enhanced efficiency, effective decision-making through consistent information, better planning of agriculture extension and irrigation and deployment of cutting-edge technologies through precision agriculture, effective water management and work audit.

A meeting held by Naidu on Friday highlighted works cut out for each department where they could focus on collecting on-ground data and upload it online for real-time tracking. Each department was stated to have listed its targets and working strategies by using technology.

GIS maps will be developed by APSRAC for 12 Major projects. The GIS maps proposed under Harita include area localised under each project, area irrigated under each source, season-wise cropped area, production & productivity maps, disaster mapping, canals, ground water levels and ground water quality.

The chief minister added that services of Harita could be extended to other institutions and departments, including banks (crop loans), insurance companies (crop insurance), marketing, taxation, planning (economics and statistics), animal husbandry, fisheries, rural water supply, rural development (watersheds) and registration & stamps.