Guwahati, July 3 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the state is increasingly harnessing science and space technology to address long-term developmental challenges, highlighting the growing role of the Assam State Space Application Centre (ASSAC) in strengthening governance and improving public service delivery.

Sharing the details on social media, the Chief Minister said the ASSAC, formerly known as the Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre (ARSAC), has undertaken more than 60 space and geospatial projects over the last five years.

“Assam is leveraging science to find solutions to long-term problems. The Assam State Space Application Centre (ASSAC) has undertaken over 60 projects in the last five years across various avenues of mapping and forecasting to aid in government decision-making and service delivery,” Sarma said.

According to information shared by the Chief Minister, ASSAC completed 60 projects during the 2021-26 period, marking a significant rise in its activities compared to previous decades.

The data showed that between 1989 and 2021, spanning 32 years, the organisation had implemented 82 projects. In contrast, it completed 60 projects in just the last five years, reflecting an accelerated pace in the adoption of geospatial technologies by the state government.

The projects cover a wide range of sectors, including mapping, remote sensing, spatial analysis and forecasting, which support evidence-based policymaking and enable more efficient implementation of government programmes.

Officials said the use of satellite imagery, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing data and predictive analytics has become increasingly important in planning infrastructure, monitoring natural resources, disaster management, urban development, agriculture and environmental conservation.

The state government has been promoting technology-driven governance by integrating scientific tools into administrative processes to improve transparency, efficiency and citizen-centric service delivery.

ASSAC functions as the state’s nodal agency for geospatial and remote sensing applications and works closely with various government departments to provide scientific inputs for planning, monitoring and implementation of development projects.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the expanded use of space technology would continue to support Assam’s long-term development goals by enabling data-driven decisions and more effective governance across sectors.

–IANS

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