New Delhi: Expressing displeasure over
under-utilisation of remote-sensing satellites, government
auditor on Friday asked the Department of Space to assess the
requirement of data in various thematic areas before planning
and launching satellites.
"NRSC/DOS may assess the need requirement of data in
various thematic areas before planning and launching
satellites and initiate action to maximise utilisation of
remote sensing satellites already launched," the Comptroller
and Auditor General (CAG) said in its report today.
The CAG presented a report on the performance audit of
the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), the nodal agency of
the Department of Space (DoS) for operational remote sensing
activities in the country, to the Lok Sabha today.
The NRSC mainly acquires remote sensing data from six
operational Indian Remote Sensing satellites and a few other
foreign satellites.
"Performance of three out of the seven remote sensing
satellites was below their maximum capacity in terms of the
number of remote sensing satellite data captured by them," the
CAG report said.
The auditor said the satellites were planned without
adequate thematic data need assessment.
"The revenue realised from seven satellites in operation
was not up to the desired level," it said.
The CAG said efforts of NRSC were not adequate in
customising the data according to the needs of private users
and also in exploring the possibility of widening the
customer base.
"The sale of data products to private users did not
improve as recommended by Standing Committee of Parliament of
DoS. Further, there was scope for enhancing the rates of IRS
data products in line with international rates," the CAG said.
PTI
