BENGALURU: The e-governance department of the state government is now working towards using technology to the optimum level to improve its operations and also help citizens.
The department will take the assistance of Karnataka State Remote Sensing and Application Centre (KSRSAC), engineering colleges and companies working in the field of geotechnology, which displayed their models at the K-GIS 2.0 on Wednesday, which included student innovation model competition, as well as technical and panel discussions on the theme: Technologies for Managing Planet Earth.
Pankaj Kumar Pandey, the principal secretary of the department of personnel and administrative reforms (e-governance), said the use of Artificial Intelligence needs to be increased across all sectors to improve government functioning. Her said the focus should be on sectors such as energy, forest, lakes and minor and major irrigation.
Citing the example of irrigation pumpsets (IP) and electricity supply, Pandey said exclusive IP feeder sets can be linked to particular crops. Using KSRSAC data, the regions can be mapped to ensure water and power supply in a time-bound manner for harvesting crops.
This will help ensure that farmers do not suffer loses and power supply is well utilised. He said technical and commercial (AT&C) losses through data-driven planning and monitoring systems can be addressed.
Pandey said effective integration of geospatial tools in power transmission networks and agricultural pumpset power consumption management can help save upto Rs 5,000 crore for the state exchequer.
Pandey said what also needs focus is checking the groundwater table when using pumpsets. Installation of solar panels and channelising power supply will be beneficial, he said.
Pandey said his department is open to partnering and using satellite imagery data from other agencies, including NASA and private international firms, but stressed on indigenous technology optimisation, as it is cheaper and more reliable.
During the session, discussions were also held on transformative role of mapping and geospatial technologies across other sectors, such as infrastructure.
This story is reported by Bosky Khanna