Question : Use of Satellite Imagery

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to put to use the satellite imagery with a view to detect and prevent the illegal sand-quarrying being carried out in the inland rivers to identify and apprehend the offenders and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to make use of satellite imagery with a view to detecting and preventing the illegal felling of trees in the reserve forests, particularly red-sanders trees in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in order to identify and apprehend the offenders and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government also proposes to utilise the satellite imagery to detect and prevent the illegal poaching of wild life in sanctuaries and reserve forests for identifying and apprehending the offenders and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) This Ministry vide Notification S.O. 141(E) dated 15.01.2016 has prescribed use of ICT for monitoring of sand mining and river bed mining.
(b) Satellite imageries are being used in stock mapping of the forests including red sanders bearing forest. Modern tools are used by the forest department in tracking the movement of offenders.
(c) In Kaziranga National Park, 24x7 electronic surveillance system and in Corbett Tiger Reserve improved surveillance (e-Eye system) using thermal cameras have been launched for protection of wild animals including tigers.
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