From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 15: India's premier space research organisation will now help Goa government to map its sand dunes, mangroves and khazan land.

Environment Minister Aleixo Sequiera said that goa government will take the help of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and talks with them are on.

The state, which is having 105-km long beach stretch, is forted by several sand dunes. Goa also has a rich vegetation of Mangroves, which are protected at several places by Forest department and local administration.

Sequiera said that the mapping would be done as a part of Coastal Regulation Zone 2011 notification, which has given abundant protection to these ecological landmarks.

Sources stated that the ISRO’s help is being sought as the exercise involves the use of Satellites to take the pictures, which would be super imposed on each other to get the final map.

Director Science, Technology and Environment, Micheal D’Souza said that each and every sand dune and mangrove would be mapped. “We are using remote sensing technology for the same,” he said.

D’Souza said that multiple satellite images would be shot which will give minute details of the sand dunes, their location, and even their height and diameter. Similar exercise will also be taken for Mangroves, which are found on the state’s saline lands and river bodies.

Even before the recent CRZ notification drafted by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), which gives special status to Goa, the state has already mapped the villages along the coastline.

D’Souza said that the hazard lines and high tide lines are also identified by the state. The state is also maintaining detailed mapping of khazan lands, which are low lying coastal saline lands reclaimed from Mangroves.