'Tech interventions can better living conditions in deserts'

Former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar today said the living conditions in the desert areas can be improved through scientific and technological interventions.
"Using science and technology, solutions adaptable to the local conditions could be devised which may lead to overall socio-economic transformation of the desert regions," he said.
He emphasised the need of harnessing and nurturing the India's capabilities in the field of science, saying a conducive atmosphere for this approach be needed.
He was expressing his views as a chief guest at a symposium -- Desert Science: Opportunities and Challenges -- at the Jai Narain Vyas University here.

Recollecting the harsh living conditions of the desert, which he had experienced during the nuclear test at Pokhran in 1974 and 1998, Kakodkar said there was a need of an inter- disciplinary approach to explore solutions keeping the local conditions in mind with their acceptability to the local people.
He said agriculture and solar energy areas needed emphatic attention by way of transformation of science into field applicable technologies.

Kakodkar also felt the need of use of nuclear technology for the promotion of agriculture.
Participating at the symposium, ISRO former chairman K Kasturirangan advocated an Academy-Industry-Corporate association for striking suitable and successful to the field solutions aiming not only at improving the socio-economic conditions but also at the judicious use of natural resources and conservation of the bio-diversity of the region.

The 3-day session will have an inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional deliberations to addressing various opportunities and challenges posed by the desert of Thar with an objective of coming out with solutions to improve the livelihood and conservation of the eco-system.