Isro's help sought to set up Centre for Space innovation in Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that the AP Higher Education Council would enter into an MoU with Isro for setting up a Centre for Space Innovation soon.

Interacting with Isro officials and vice-chancellors of various universities from the Command Communication Centre in Vijayawada on Saturday, the Chief Minister appealed to the Isro officials to extend necessary technical know-how for the development of the state. He asked the Isro officials to establish a weather prediction centre for the benefit of farmers.

The Isro authorities explained about the technology available to predict the weather conditions one day before with 70 per cent accuracy. They said they could furnish information with 60 per cent accuracy before two days. The Isro officials informed the CM that the southwest (Nyruti) monsoon which is likely to be active till September 15 was likely to continue for one more week.

Later, Mr Naidu reviewed the national cyclone risk mitigation project (NCRMP) project. Project leaders -- TCIL and L&T officials explained about the functioning of the cyclone  project which is being implemented with an assistance of Rs 1,187 crore from the World Bank.

The officials said under the project, they can furnish prior information on cyclones to prevent loss of life and property.

The CM said taking into consideration the experiences during Hudhud cyclone, the officials should provide the cyclone warning information in real time. He  directed the officials to complete the NCRMP works by June next year.
Isro range operations scientist D.M. Rajasekhar explained about the weather predictions technology.