Karnataka launches pilot drone project

Karnataka has now joined the ranks of States that are using unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones in governance. The State on Thursday launched a pilot project under which drones will be used in agriculture, urban development and policing. The demonstrative application projects using drones will be taken up in an agriculture field in Kasaba hobli of Haveri to conduct a survey of extent of crops, their health status and yield in 200 square kms. The drone operations will be carried out in three months during the crop life-cycle in the present kharif season. Similarly, a survey of the 60 square kms in Bantwal town of Dakshina Kannada will be carried out through drones to prepare a detailed base map to provide inputs for evolving a master plan for the town. The third application of drones will be in policing in Bengaluru. Karnataka Science & Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) will implement the above pilot project in co-ordination with other departments concerned. Participating at the launching ceremony of the pilot project, IT & BT Principal Secretary, Gaurav Gupta, said the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, headed by space scientist K. Kasturirangan, had recommended to the government to take up specific applications to demonstrate end-to-end practices for use of drones in governance. Agriculture Minister N.H. Shivashankara Reddy said the government was particularly interested in using drones for conducting a Statewide survey of crops and land holdings to get accurate data. Source: The Hindu