Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated the India Drone Festival 2.0 here on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that considerable progress had been achieved in the sphere of drone technology and application with the help of NTRO in Uttarakhand. The utility of drone technology has increased in mountainous states like Uttarakhand. Drones can play an important role during natural disasters and in emergency health services. The use of this technology can lend a new direction to life, he said.
Referring to the youth as the future of the nation Rawat stressed on the participation of youth in such events. Stating that the nation’s first drone application training and research centre was established in Dehradun, he said that by using such modern technologies the youth can play a vital role in the development of the state and nation.
The youth will also be able to access employment opportunities through drone related technical education.The CM also inaugurated www.Uttarakhandmygov.in portal on the occasion. This portal enables any citizen to communicate directly with the government and give suggestions on any subject. Rawat also released the GIS based drone mapper software ‘DARC Mapper’ on the occasion. Prepared by the drone application centre, this software will enable photo capture, making of three dimensional models and data analysis.
The Information Technology secretary RK Sudhanshu said that about 1,500 schools from 13 districts of the state and about two lakh youngsters were directly connected to this programme in the India Drone Festival 2.0. Referring to the utility of drones, he said that considering the geographical features of the state, drones will be considerably useful especially in emergency situations.
The Dehradun mayor Sunil Uniyal ‘Gama’, MLA Ganesh Joshi, chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh, director general of police Anil K Raturi, surveyor general of India, lieutenant general Girish Kumar, additional chief secretary Radha Raturi and ITDA director Amit Sinha were among those present on occasion.