New Mapping Policy on the anvil: Shri Kapil Sibal

The Minister of State for Science and Technology and Ocean Development, Shri Kapil Sibal today said that a New Mapping Policy is in the final stage of preparation. Addressing the plenary session of Map India - 2005 here today, he said that the new policy will provide tremendous opportunities for growth in geospatial sciences and will go a long way to benefit the society.

Shri Sibal said that the new Mapping Policy would lead to map data being available and accessible to all areas of the country including the Jammu and Kashmir and the North East besides the coastal zones.

Shri Sibal said that geospatial data are essential to addressing the needs of our society. Sound map data are required for preparing developmental strategies and plans along scientific lines.

Referring to country's forthcoming Mapping Policy, the Minister said that concomitant with the liberalization of policy, there is an urgent need for strict enforcement of copyright laws, formulation of intellectual property regime and relevant legal protection to the data providers. Shri Sibal informed the gathering that as different organizations from the Government, the academia and the private sector are working towards operationalzing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, a proposal for the installation of a data infrastructure is under consideration and the acceptance of the proposal by the government will provide institutional sanctity to it.

Dr. Tad Murthy, President of Tsunami Society, Canada who also addressed the gathering, emphasized the need for geospatial map data infrastructure and said that sharing of data is essential to tackle disaster and post disaster management.

Map India - 2005 is the 8th Annual International Conference in the field of GIS, GPS, Remote Sensing, and Aerial Photography etc. with a mission to bring all stakeholders on the geospatial platform. On this occasion, Geomatics - 2005 also begins in conjugation with Map India. Around 1200 participants from home and abroad are taking part in this three-day Conference.

Source: Ministry of Science & Technology
Date: February 7, 2005