Bihar to use 3 satellites for 'longest human chain' imagery

Three satellites, including one foreign and two of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will be used to click images of the "world's longest human chain" of over 11,000 km on January 21 in support of prohibition in Bihar, officials said on Wednesday.

The state government has decided to form the world's longest human chain in the state to demonstrate public support for prohibition. It will probably be the first of its kind event in the country.

"We will use two ISRO satellites and one foreign satellite to click the images of the world's longest human chain in Bihar in support of prohibition," an official in the Chief Minister's Office here said.

Explaining the need for a foreign satellite, officials said clicking photographs of such a long human chain would not be possible using only ISRO satellite, in view of their positioning during the time.

According to officials, a five-member team of ISRO from Kolkata and Hyderabad held a meeting with state Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh on Wednesday to finalise things for satellite imagery of the huge spectacle.

The human chain is expected to be 11,292 km long covering almost the entire state."The proposed human chain will be from east to west and from north to south Bihar that will cover all panchayats, blocks and districts," the official said.

Millions of people will take part in the human chain. "They will hold their hands together for 45 minutes from 12.15 p.m. to 1 p.m.," the official added.

Nitish Kumar imposed a total liquor ban in the state on April 5, 2016. After this, more than 16,000 people have been arrested on charges of either consuming or transporting liquor in the state.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), a major constituent of Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance, on Tuesday decided to support and join Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's proposed human chain to raise awareness about liquor prohibition in the state.

Main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party also decided to join the human chain after Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Nitish Kumar for his policy of imposing liquor prohibition in Bihar.

--IANS

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