In an attempt to stop unabated intrusion from the eastern and western frontier, the Union Home Ministry is all set to take the help of an exclusive satellite to help it further strengthen its frontiers with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
“The government has approved a task force report in which a satellite is proposed to be launched for exclusive use by MHA,” said a senior government official.
The task force report proposes the use of satellite for communication in remote areas, GIS & operations planning system and satellite based GPS in navigation by forces during operations.
To execute the project, a short, medium and long term plan has been approved for implementation in five years in coordination with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Ministry of Defence.
In short term, immediate needs of border guarding forces will be met by procurement of high resolution imagery and hiring of bandwidth for communications.
“In mid-term, one satellite is being launched by the ISRO for exclusive use of the MHA,” the official said.
Over the long term, the MHA will develop ground segment and network infrastructure to share satellite resources by user agencies, develop a central archival facility for storing various imagery resources and dissemination of the same to user agencies.
According to government statistics as many as 3213 cases of illegal intrusion have been recorded since 2015 till date from eastern and western frontier.
Government has already identified areas for use of space technology in improving Border Management that includes, Border Security, Communication and Navigation, GIS & Operations Planning System and Border Infrastructure Development.
The Border Security Force (BSF) has been designated as lead agency for implementation of ground segment and network infrastructure, including establishment of archival facility.
India shares land borders with Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
“With the assistance of the department of space, the Ministry of Home Affairs would implement the project,” the official said.