175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 1 of 22

PARLIAMENT OF INDIA RAJYA SABHA DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIFTH REPORT

ON DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (2007-2008) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SPACE (DEMAND NO. 88) (PRESENTED TO THE RAJYA SABHA ON 26TH APRIL, 2007) (LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA ON 26TH APRIL, 2007) RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI APRIL, 2007/VAISAKHA, 1929 (SAKA) E-Mail : [email protected] Web site: http://rajyasabha.nic.in C O N T E N T S

1. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE 2. INTRODUCTION 3. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

4. SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS 5. ANNEXURE 6. MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

COMPOSITION OF THE DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (YEAR 2006) ------1. Shri P.G. Narayanan –– Chairman

RAJYA SABHA 2. Dr.Prabha Thakur # 3. Vacant 4. Shri Suryakantbhai Acharya 5. Shri Bhagirathi Majhi 6. Shri Kamal Akhtar 7. Shri Saman Pathak 8. Shri Jabir Husain 9. Shri Ravula Chandra Sekar Reddy

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 2 of 22

10. Dr. Barun Mukherjee

LOK SABHA 11. Shri Jashubhai Dhanabhai Barad 12. Dr. Sujan Chakraborty 13. Shri Thupstan Chhewang 14. Shri Pankaj Chaudhary 15. Shri Francis Fanthome 16. Shri Babubhai K. Katara 17. Shri A. Venkatesh Naik 18. Shri Brahmananda Panda 19. Smt. Neeta Pateriya 20. Shri Jaysingrao Gaikwad Patil 21. Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil 22. Shri Bachi Singh ‘Bachda’ Rawat 23. Shri K.C. Singh “Baba” 24. Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh 25. Shri Rakesh Singh 26. Shri Aruna Kumar Vundavalli 27. Smt. Jayaben B. Thakkar 28. Shri Akhilesh Yadav 29. Shri Mitrasen Yadav 30. Shri Sita Ram Yadav * 31. Shri Rampal Singh

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 3 of 22

SECRETARIAT

Shri N.C. Joshi, Additional Secretary Shri R.K. Singh, Officer on Special Duty Shri Alok Kumar Chatterjee, Deputy Secretary Shri Jagmohan Sundriyal, Under Secretary Shri S. Rangarajan, Committee Officer INTRODUCTION

I, the Chairman of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests, having been authorised by the Committee to present the Report on its behalf, present this One Hundred Seventy-fifth of the Committee. This Report deals with the detailed Demands for Grants (2007- 2008) of the Department of Space (Demand No.88).

2. In the meeting of the Committee held on the 2nd April, 2007 the Secretary and other Officers of the Department of Space gave an overview of the various activities of the Department and the Members sought clarifications on various aspects of the performance of the Department to enable it to scrutinise the Demands for Grants.

3. The Committee expresses its thanks to the Officers of the Department for replying to the clarifications sought by the Members and placing before it the required material to enable the Committee to scrutinise the Demands for Grants of the Department of Space.

4. The Committee considered and adopted the Report at its meeting held on the 20th April, 2007.

NEW DELHI; P.G.NARAYANAN, April 20, 2007 Chairman Department- relatedParliamentaryStandinCommitteeon Science & Technology, Environment & Forests.

REPORT

Indian Space Programmme which began in the early sixties, was initiated primarily for scientific purposes. Since 1969 the management of space research and its utilization for peaceful purposes has been controlled by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Thereafter, in 1972 the Indian Government set up the Space Commission and entrusted the Department of Space (DOS) with the responsibility for conducting the country's space activities. Since the inception of the space programme, it has proven to be beneficial for both civilian and military purposes. India undertook demonstration of space applications for communication, broadcasting and remote sensing; designing and building experimental satellites-Aryabhata, Bhaskara, APPLE and Rohini and experimental Satellite Launch Vehicles, SLV-3 and ASLV. The successs of those programmes led to an era of operational satellite programmes like INSAT and IRS. The INSAT series of satellites made a major impact on telecommunication scenario in India. The Space technology has allowed the nation to move into the

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 4 of 22

world of high technology, a place previously occupied only by more advanced nations.

2. The primary objective of the Indian Space Programme is to promote the development and application of space technology and space science for the socio-economic benefit of the nation through establishment of operational space services in a self-reliant manner. The main thrust areas of the programme are:

ƒ Satellite-based communication for various applications.

ƒ Satellite-based resources survey and management and environmental monitoring.

ƒ Meteorological applications

ƒ Development and operationalisation of indigenous satellites, launch vehicles and associated ground segment for providing these space-based services.

3. To achieve the aforesaid objectives the DOS implements the policies framed by the Space Commission. These are carried out through the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Grant-in-aid institutions viz., National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), North-Eastern Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) and Semi-Conductors Laboratory (SCL).

4. The Secretariat of Department of Space and the Headquarters of ISRO are located in Bangalore. Programme Offices at ISRO Headquarters co-ordinate the overall programmes like satellite communication, Satellite Navigation, earth observation, launch vehicle, space science, space industry development, disaster management support, international co-operation, publications and public relations, budget and economic analysis and human resource development.

5. The major Centres, Units and establishments of ISRO/DOS, responsible for carrying out research and development activities as well as for undertaking various projects and programmes, are given below:

(a) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, provides the technology base for the country’s indigenous launch vehicle (rocket) development.

(b) Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), with its facilities at Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and Mahendragiri, is responsible for development of liquid propulsion and cryogenic propulsion systems for satellite and launch vehicles

(c) Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, is the launch base. Also, it provides the facilities for processing of solid rocket motors.

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 5 of 22

(d) ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore, is entrusted with the prime responsibility for the satellite development. ISRO Radar Development Unit (ISRAD), Bangalore of ISAC has the responsibility to develop the Radar systems for ISRO and other emerging radar systems for national development.

(e) The Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS), Bangalore has the responsibility for development and production of electro optical sensors for satellites.

(f) Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, carries out research and development in space applications as well as development of application payloads.

(g) Development and Educational Communication Unit (DECU), Ahmedabad, is involved in the conception, definition, planning and socio/techno-economic evaluation of development communication programmes.

(h) ISRO Telemetry, Tracking & Command Network (ISTRAC), with its ground stations at Bangalore, Sriharikota, Lucknow, Bearslake, Biak (Indonesia), Brunei and Mauritius provides the telemetry, tracking and command support and spacecraft mission management for the Indian remote sensing satellite missions, space science missions and satellite launch vehicle programmes.

(i) Master Control Facility (MCF) with its main facility at Hassan, Karnataka and backup facility at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh has the responsibility for control and operation of INSAT satellites.

(j) ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), Thiruvananthapuram, carries out research and development in the area of inertial systems for satellites and launch vehicles.

6. In addition, a National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS), with the Department of Space (DOS) as the nodal agency, has been established to ensure optimal utilisation of natural resources using remote sensing data in conjunction with conventional techniques. Under NNRMS, five Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSCs) at Bangalore, Dehradun, Jodhpur, Kharagpur and Nagpur have been set up for execution of remote sensing application programmes in the respective regions.

7. In addition to the aforesaid institutions, the following Organisations receiving Grants-in-aid, under the Department of Space:

(a) National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad, an autonomous institution under the Department of Space, is responsible for acquisition, processing and dissemination of

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 6 of 22

satellite and aerial remote sensing data. The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) of NRSA, located at Dehradun imparts training in various disciplines to user scientists.

(b) Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, an autonomous institution supported mainly by the Department of Space, carries out research in space sciences.

(c) The National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) set up at Gadanki near Tirupati, conducts atmospheric research.

(d) The North-Eastern Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) established as an autonomous body under the Department of Space provides space technology inputs for their developmental activities in the North Eastern Region.

(e) The Semi-conductor Laboratory located at Chandigarh is a research and development society and is entrusted with the design and development of Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit (VLSI) devices and development of micro-electronic systems to meet the strategic needs of the country

8. The RESPOND programme of ISRO supports sponsored research activity in space science, space applications and space technology in various national academic/research institutions and Space Technology Cells in premier technological institutes of the country through grants-in-aid.

9. In addition to the above, the Antrix Corporation Limited, Bangalore, a wholly owned Government Company, was established in 1992 for marketing space products and services.

10. BUDGETARY ALLOCATION 10.1 The plan and non-plan break-up of the provision for BE 2007 - 08 is as follows: (Rs.in Crores) Non-Plan Plan Total Budget Estimates 2007-08 (Gross) 438.62 3420.18 3858.80 Budget Estimates 2007-08 (Net) 438.60 3420.00 3858.60

10.2 The Budget Estimates 2007-08 works out to Rs.3858.80 Cr with a Plan component of Rs.3420.18 Crores and Non-Plan component of Rs.438.62 Crores. The details of this provision are given in Annexure.

11. The Committee was informed that it has been rigorously following the Zero Based Budgeting methodology for formulation of Annual Budgets. Detailed reviews are carried out at various levels in the organisation to arrive at the minimum essential cash flow for each Project, Programme and Centre/Unit,

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 7 of 22

based on the programmatic priorities, total cost, scheduled targets, progress achieved so far and the milestones planned for the budgeting period. Consistent with the programme directions and targets envisaged for the 11th Five Year Plan period, the specific activities/projects to be undertaken and the performance milestones to be achieved have been carefully prioritised while arriving at the Budget Estimates for 2007-08. The Committee was also apprised of the detailed reasons for the allocation made under various heads in B.E. 2007-08, which are as follows:

11.1. The Committee was also informed that, under the ‘Launch Vehicle Technology’, a provision of Rs. 1521.15 crores has been sought in BE 2007-08 which is essentially for the major ongoing projects such as GSLV(Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle), GSLV-Operational, CUSP(Cryogenic Upper stage Project), GSLV- MKIII, PSLV(Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), Space Capsule Recovery Experiment, Pre-project activities related to Manned Mission Initiatives, Semi-cryogenic development, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and also the technology development initiatives, advanced R&D, technical facilities augmentation/ replacement and organisation and infrastructure maintenance of related centres /units viz., the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) and ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU). The BE 2007-08 also includes provision towards Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) and Air breathing Propulsion to develop and demonstrate critical technologies for future launch vehicle systems.

11.2. The major missions/projects in ‘Satellite Technology’ area such as Cartosat-2, Resourcesat-2, Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT), Oceansat-2, GSAT-3 (EDUSAT), GSAT-4 and Indian Regional Satellite Navigation System (IRNSS) are already in progress. It is also planned to initiate work on Advanced Communication Satellite, GEO-HR imager for continuous observations on earth from geo- stationary orbit and Altika-Argos for ocean and atmospheric studies. These missions/projects along with the technology development initiatives, R&D, technical facilities augmentation /replacement and O&M of related centres /units viz., ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Laboratory for Electro-optics Systems (LEOS) and Semi-Conductors Laboratory (SCL) would require Rs.562.77 Crores during 2007-08.

11.3. Rs 266.78 Cr has been sought by the Department in BE 2007-08 towards ‘Launch Support, Tracking Network and Range Facilities’. This essentially includes the operations and maintenance expenditure of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR), ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) and ISRO Radar Development Unit (ISRAD).

11.4 Under the head ‘Space Applications’, the Committee was informed that a provision of Rs.411.16 Cr has been sought in BE 2007-08 which is essentially for the National Natural Resource Management System(NNRMS) application programmes, Earth Observation application development, Tele-medicine, Tele-education, Village Resource Centres (VRCs), Disaster Management Support and other application programmes. This also includes the budgetary support for application R&D, technical facilities augmentation /replacement, O&M of related Centres viz., Space Application Centre,

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 8 of 22

Development and Educational Communication Unit (DECU) and Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSC) as well as Grant-in-aid to National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) and North- Eastern Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC).

11.5 Under the ‘Space sciences’, a provision of Rs. 310.85 Crores has been sought in BE 2007-08 which is essentially for Indian Lunar Mission (Chandrayaan-1), Astrosat project, Megha- tropiques project, Space science research at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Atmospheric Science Programme, ISRO Geosphere Biosphere programme (IGBP), Space science payload sensor development / Planetary Science Programme and other schemes.

11.6 The major projects/missions under ‘INSAT Operational’ essentially include INSAT-3 satellites, INSAT-4 satellites and their launch services (on-orbit insurance) and the O & M expenditure of Master Control facility for on-orbit maintenance of INSAT satellites. A provision of Rs. 489.78 crores has been sought in BE 2007-08 towards this programme.

11.7. Rs. 296.31 crores has been sought under ‘Other programmes/Direction and Administration’ in BE 2007-08 which includes Indigenous development of critical space materials and electronic components including up-gradation of microelectronics fabrication facilities at SCL, International co- operation, DOS Secretariat expenditure, ISRO Headquarters, Civil Engineering Division, Central management and Others.

12. FINANCIAL OUTLAY DURING THE 10TH PLAN PERIOD

12.1 The total expenditure of the Department during the 10th plan period (including provision in RE 2006-007) would come to Rs. 12,630 crores approx. comprising of Plan component of Rs. 10,883 crores and Non-plan component of Rs. 1747 crores. The Department has maintained annual budget utilisation of more than 99% of the final approved grant during the plan period. (Budget utilisation has been in the range of 99.67% to 99.88%.). The indicative plan outlay for the Department for 10th plan was Rs. 13,250 crores. Hence, the final grant approved for the Department through Annual Plans has fallen short of the indicative outlay by Rs. 2367 crores. The observed shortfall under Plan is essentially due to phasing out of expenditure on PSLV/GSLV Continuation and Earth Observation follow on missions based on programm schedules, savings in INSAT-4 costs, savings in Land/Civil works and Infrastructure operations cost.

12.2 The Committee commends the efforts of the Department in achieving an Annual Budget Utilisation of more than 99% of the final approved grant during the Tenth Five year Plan period, which points towards the fact that the plans and targets have been practically set and realistic budget projections have been made for the targeted schemes. The Committee desires that in future too budget provisions should be made on realistic estimates; so that there is no need for surrender of funds at a later stage.

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 9 of 22

13. ELEVENTH FIVE YEAR PLAN (2007-12) PROPOSALS

13.1 The Committee was informed that the eleventh five year plan 2007-12 proposals have been formulated under the framework of a Decade Profile 2010-2020 after extensive interactions, detailed studies and consultations within the organisation as well as with user community. The programmes and the Mission Profile have been based on the national developmental needs in the social and economic sectors. The Department has sought an allocation of Rs. 39,750 crores for the 11th five-year plan consisting of Plan component of Rs. 36,750 crores and non-plan component of Rs. 3,000 crores

13.2 The major thrust of the Indian Space programme during the 11th five year plan 2007-12 will be continue and strengthen the already established space services and to develop capability in the advanced areas of space technology. The programmes envisaged for the 11th five year plan include:

ƒ Development of advanced launch vehicle systems including GSLV Mk III and development of critical technologies required for Reusable Launch Vehicle.

ƒ Augmentation of INSAT/GSAT system to meet the projected demand for satellite communication services in the country.

ƒ Establishment of Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System. (IRNSS)

ƒ Maintain the leadership in Earth Observation system with three series of thematic satellites viz., Resourcesat series, Cartosat series and Ocean / atmospheric series.

ƒ Front ranking research in space science and planetary exploration.

ƒ Manned Mission Initiatives.

ƒ Thrust areas of applications – expansion of Tele-education, Tele-medicine, Village Resource Centres, Satellite Navigational services, Disaster Management Support and developmental applications in the area of natural resource management.

ƒ Human Resource Development including setting up of Indian Institute of space science and technology, Industry Interface, academic interface and International co-operation. 13.3 The Committee desires that the overall thrust of the Space Programme during 11th Plan should be to sustain and strengthen the already established space-based services towards socio-economic development of the country. Efforts should also be made towards increasing the commercial prospects of the developments of the country in the field of space science specially in the area of Launch Vehicle Development. The Committee also desires that the country scale new heights during the 11th plan period in the space applications for communication, broadcasting, remote sensing, launch vehicle technology etc. 14. MONITORING MECHANISM FOR ONGOING SCHEMES 14.1 In reply to a query regarding the details of mechanisms developed by the Department to monitor and review the progress of the ongoing schemes, before formulating/finalising proposals for budgetary support, the Committee was informed that in order to monitor and review the progress of all the ongoing projects / schemes and to provide overall directions, the Department has evolved a two-tier project

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 10 of 22

management structure consisting of Project / Programme Management Council and Project Management Board / Project Executive Committee (PMC/PMB/PEX) for all the major projects / schemes in the area of Satellites, Launch Vehicles and Space applications. Before formulating the budget proposals, multi-level reviews are carried out at the ISRO Centres/Units and Project Management Boards / Management Councils of all the major projects/schemes comprehensively covering the technical and managerial cost and schedule aspects. Detailed and critical analysis and reviews are then carried out by the ISRO Headquarters with the Centres/Units/Projects. The budget items are reviewed in totality including Plan and Non-plan components. The ISRO Council undertakes a rigorous review of all the budget proposals, addressing the managerial/ programmatic / financial aspects preceded by detailed technical review of the programs/ projects / activities. The essentiality of each item, the schedule-budget linkages and cash flow requirements are addressed during these reviews. The overall budget proposals thus formulated are reviewed by Space Commission, a high level body constituted by Government of India, before submitting the proposals to the Government. 14.2 The Committee desires that the existing reviewing mechanisms developed by the Department to monitor and review the progress of the ongoing schemes/projects before formulating/finalizing proposals for budgetary support should be strengthened to eliminate the scope of shortage or surrender of funds at a later stage. 15. SPACE CAPSULE RECOVERY (SRE-1) EXPERIMENT 15.1 The Committee was informed that Space Capsule Recovery (SRE-I) Experiment is a unique mission conceived to demonstrate capability to recover an orbiting capsule safely back to earth and also to conduct micro gravity experiment. SRE-I, which was orbiting the earth at a height of 637 kms, was successfully recovered on January 22, 2007 after being manoeuvred to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere and descend over the Bay of Bengal about 140 km east of Sriharikota. SRE incorporates several key technologies such as reusable thermal protection system, deceleration and flotation systems, re-entry control and propulsion systems, space qualified parachute systems, locating aids, etc., and will lay a strong technological foundation for future Reusable Launch Vehicle Systems. SRE-I carried two experiments-one related to study of metal melting and crystallization under micro gravity conditions and the other intended to study the synthesis of nano-crystals under micro gravity conditions. The success of SRE-I is an important beginning for providing a low cost platform for micro-gravity experiments in space science and technology and return specimen from space. The technologies demonstrated through SRE-I can provide inputs for design of reusable launch vehicles and manned space missions. 15.2 The Committee commends the role of the Indian Space Scientists in successfully conducting the SRE-I experiments and desires that the technology demonstrated through the experiment should provide inputs for the design of reusable launch vehicles and manned space missions in near future.

16. CHANDRAYAAN-I 16.1 The Committee was informed that Chandrayaan-I, scheduled during 2007-2008, is India’s first

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 11 of 22

unmanned scientific mission to moon. The main objective is the investigation of the distribution of various minerals and chemical elements and high-resolution three-dimensional mapping of the entire lunar surface. ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launce Vehicle, PSLV, will launch Chandrayaan-I into a 240 km X 24,000 km earth orbit. Subsequently, the spacecraft’s own propulsion system would be used to place it in a 100 km polar orbit around the moon.

16.2 The Department also informed the Committee that Indian payloads on board Chandrayaan-I include a Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC), a Hyper Spectral Imager, a High-Energy X-ray spectrometer (HEX), a Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI) and a Moon Impact Probe (MIP). ISRO and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of USA have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) during the year on inclusion of two US scientific instruments on board India’s first mission to Moon, Chandrayaan-I. These instruments are-Mini Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini SAR) developed by Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University and funded by NASA and Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3), jointly built by Brown University and Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA. The two US instruments, Mini SAR and M3, were selected on the basis of merit out of 16 firm proposals from all over the world received in response to ISRO’s announcement of opportunity. The main objective of Mini SAR is to detect water in the permanently shadowed areas of lunar Polar Regions. The objective of M3 is the characterization and mapping of minerals on the lunar surface.

16.3 Regarding the decrease in allocation to the Indian Lunar Mission Chandrayaan-I from Rs.96 crores in 2007-08, as against Rs.142.75 crores and Rs.115.60 crores in BE and RE stages in 2006-07, the Department stated that the first Indian Lunar Mission Chandrayaan-1, approved in September 2003, is intended for chemical and mineralogical mapping of the moon’s surface thus enhancing the understanding of the origin and evolution of moon. Chandrayaan-1 has made significant progress and the scientific instruments are under advanced stages of development. A deep space network is being established at Bangalore to provide communication link for Chandrayaan. The spacecraft development is also under progress. As most of the expenditure towards procurement of payload and spacecraft materials and setting up of Deep Space network have already been completed, the budgetary support required in 2007-08 has been reduced based on the programme requirements. It may be noted that Chandrayaan-1 is scheduled for launch in 2008 onboard PSLV.

16.4 The Committee desires that the Chandrayaan-1 mission progresses as per schedule and the spacecraft should be ready for launch in 2008. The Committee desires that the Chandrayaan-1 mission should upgrade India’s space technological capabilities and would in future help in launching manned missions to moon.

17. TELE-EDUCATION 17.1 The committee was informed that tele-education is a nation-wide programme to impart quality

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 12 of 22

education in the country through EDUSAT satellite launched in September 2004. Four school networks (Chamarajanagar and Gulbarga in Karnataka, Sidhi in Madhaya Pradesh, Mallapuram in Kerala) have become operational and another one in Lakshadweep is under implementation. Networks for IGNOU, CEC/University Grants Commission (UGC), CIT/National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) have been set up using the national beam on EDUSAT. Interactive networks for Kerala and Tamil Nadu are operational and extensively used for teachers’ training and other training programmes using regional beam. Currently, more than 10,000 EDUSAT class rooms are operational in the country benefiting more than 2 lakh students. The expansion of the EDUSAT network is progressing in co-ordination with Ministry of HRD. 17.2 The Committee was also informed that a major component hitherto included under DECU budget is EDUSAT application programme. The Development and Educational Communication Unit (DECU), was allocated Rs.161.97 crores and Rs.119.50 crores at BE and RE stages during the year 2006-07. The allocation was further reduced to Rs.85.36 crores during the year 2007-08. The Committee queried the reasons for the continuous decrease in the budgetary allocation. In reply the Committee was also informed that the semi-operational phase of EDUSAT application programme is nearing completion and the funding support for EDUSAT applications are now largely a part of user States / Ministries. In view of this, the budgetary allocation for DECU has been reduced. However, it may be noted that the EDUSAT application programmes are not affected by this reduction as the required funding support is being received from States / User Ministries. 17.3 In reply to a query regarding the expansion of EDUSAT network in coordination with the Ministry of Human Resource Development and its benefits for Engineering and Medical students the Secretary of the Department apprised the Committee that initially the programme was started with engineering studies in Karnataka state in Visvesvaraya Technological University. Now the programme has started in other engineering colleges/educational institutions as well with the involvement of UGC and AICTE at all-India level. The Ministry of Human Resource Development also has been sensitised and there is a proposal to connect almost 18,000 schools. 17.4 The Committee feels that through the EDUSAT a long-felt need to provide connectivity and transfer of knowledge among the technical/medical institutes would be met. This would help the students in technical/medical institutes which lack infrastructure to get quality education. The Committee further desires that the proposal for connecting schools through the EDUSAT programme should be expedited in coordination with the Ministry of Human Resource Development and attention should be paid towards including schools in the backward and rural areas.

18. TELE-MEDICINE 18.1 The Committee was informed that the Tele-medicine network is a novel application of space technology to bring health care to remote locations of the country. Currently, DOS has established Tele- medicine facilities at 186 Hospitals on a pilot basis connecting 152 District Hospitals in rural and remote

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 13 of 22

areas including the Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, North-East areas and J&K to 34 specialty hospitals in major cities. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in co-ordination with Department of Space is evolving an integrated plan for large scale expansion of Tele-medicine in the country. 18.2 The Committee feels that in a country like India, investment in a highly capital intensive area like Public Health may not be always possible, particularly in the backward areas of the country. Telemedicine provides an excellent alternative option to provide the services of the best medical specialists to the farthest corner of the country. The Committee therefore recommends that the telemedicine network should be expanded further to include the areas which have been left out so far. 19 DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

19.1 The Committee was apprised that the Disaster Management Support (DMS) developed by the Department addresses the following:- (i) Creation of digital database for facilitating hazard zonation, damage assessment, etc. (ii) Monitoring of major natural disasters using satellite and aerial data and development of appropriate techniques/ tools (iii) Acquisition of close contour data for hazard prone areas using Air-borne Laser Terrain Mapper (iv) Strengthening the communication backbone for timely dissemination of information and emergency support (v) Development of Air-born Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) towards all-weather monitoring capability (vi) Establishment of a Decision Support Centre (DSC) at National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) as a single-window service provider and (vii) Support the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, as a signatory.

19.2 The Committee was also informed that during the flood season in 2006, in all 27 flood events in 10 States were monitored using the IRS and other satellites data. The Development of an Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar for aircraft survey for disaster management and the setting up of Virtual Private Network (VPN) connecting Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with 20 district nodes for real time exchange of critical information and data related to floods, cyclones, drought, land slides, forest fires, etc. is in advanced stages of completion. The development of INSAT based emergency communication terminals for rapid deployment in disaster prone areas has been completed. 19.3 The Committee observed that the allocation for the Disaster Management System has been increased drastically to Rs.70 crores in the year 2007-08, as compared to the allocation of Rs.24.35 crores and Rs.26.47 crores at BE and RE stages at 2006-07. The Department explained that an important component of the Space based Disaster Management Support is the impact mapping and monitoring support immediately after any disaster event such as flood, cyclone, earth quake, etc., using aerial surveys. Towards this, the department plans to set up a dedicated instrumented aircraft fitted with Synthetic Aperture Radar, digital camera and other instruments to provide near real time mapping support for natural disasters, for which enhanced budgetary support is sought in BE 2007-08. 19.4 The Committee understands that a lot of economic devastation and human loss is caused regularly by the floods, cyclones, storms etc. In this direction the Committee recommends that the work

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 14 of 22

relating to the development of the Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar for aircraft survey for disaster management and the setting up of Virtual Private Network (VPN) may be expedited, particularly in view of the increased budgetary allocation, so that the country may derive the benefits of the Disaster Management System(DMS) at the earliest. The Committee also recommends that when the DMS is in place, proper attention may be given towards the quick dissemination of information to the District Headquarters after the data is obtained from the satellites, so that human and material losses can be minimised. 20. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 20.1 The Committee was apprised that the Department is contemplating to set up an Institute to train engineers and researchers specially in the space related technologies and other related areas. The details of the proposal for the institute are as follows:

(a) the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is being set up to generate the quality manpower required for the Space Programme.

(b) the institute is being designed to provide professional education with curriculum tuned to meet the state-of-art technology requirements of Space programme. The institute is planned to offer graduate, post graduate and research programmes in space science, technology and applications.

(c) the basic objective is to attract the best talents from +2 level and impart the required professional education at graduate and post-graduate levels keeping in tune with space technology requirements.

(d) the institute is targeted to function from the academic year 2007-08 and the existing laboratory infrastructure of ISRO Centres / Units is proposed to be extensively utilised by the institute.

(e) the proposal of setting up Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology has been cleared by Space Commission and is being put up for the consideration of the Cabinet.

(f) A major benefit of the proposed institute will be the availability of trained talented manpower every year for undertaking challenging tasks of Space programme in the country. 20.2 In reply to a query regarding the location of establishment of the proposed Institute and what sort of survey has been done for the purpose, the Secretary of the Department stated that one of the factors which was considered for choosing the location is, where maximum extent of utilization and the type of subjects are involved and that turned out to be that at Thiruvananthapuram. The proposal is awaiting the clearance from the Prime Minister before it is submitted to the Cabinet. The initial intake of the number of students would be around twenty.

20.3 The Committee commends the Department on the setting up of a specialized Institute to generate the quality manpower required for the Space Programme. The Committee observes that only one Institute with an intake of around 20 is proposed to be set up and therefore recommends that the possibility of setting up of more such Institutes in the rest of the country may be explored. The intake of students may also be increased gradually to cater to the growing requirement of space scientists.

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 15 of 22

21. After considering the Demands for Grants of the Department of Space and assessing the progress of various important programmes and projects administered by it, the Committee recommends that the budgetary allocation of Rs.3858.60 Crores under Demand No. 88 as sought by the Department for the year 2007-08 may be approved. ANNEXURE

REVISED ESTIMATES 2006-07 & BUDGET ESTIMATES 2007-08 PROGRAMMATIC ALLOCATIONS (Rs. in crores) Sl. Budget Revised Budget Programmes/Projects/Centres/Units No. 2006-2007 2006-2007 2007-2008 A SPACE TECHNOLOGY I Launch Vehicle Technology Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle 1 11.30 7.10 9.00 (GSLV) Project 2 Cryogenic Upper Stage Project 2.00 1.95 1.30 3 PSLV-Continuation Project 100.00 100.00 160.00 4 GSLV Mk-III Development 417.44 325.00 335.00 5 Space Capsule Recovery Experiment - I & II 11.48 11.48 9.45 6 GSLV - Operational 200.60 208.00 265.00 7 Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre 329.77 282.73 352.20 8 ISRO Inertial Systems Unit 19.82 20.80 21.25 9 Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre 154.45 143.24 217.95 10 Manned Mission Initiatives (Pre-investment) 0.00 0.00 50.00 11 Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology 0.00 0.00 75.00 12 Semi Cryogenic/Stage Development 0.00 0.00 25.00

Sub- Total 1246.86 1100.30 1521.15

II Satellite Technology 13 IRS-P5 (Cartosat-1) 0.00 0.00 0.00 14 Cartosat-2 1.49 1.38 0.15 15 Oceansat-2 54.12 54.12 30.00 16 Resourcesat-2 30.00 20.00 50.00 17 G.SAT-3 (Edusat) 0.00 0.00 0.00 18 G.SAT-4 10.00 15.00 8.00 19 METSAT-2 5.00 0.00 0.00 20 RISAT-1 93.85 50.00 56.00

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 16 of 22

21 Advanced Communication Satellite 25.00 0.00 12.00

(Rs. in crores) Sl. Budget Revised Budget Programmes/Projects/Centres/Units No. 2006-2007 2006-2007 2007-2008 22 Navigational Satellite System 440.00 0.20 101.00 23 ISRO Satellite Centre 171.87 177.97 213.29 24 Laboratory for Electro-Optics System 12.34 22.49 21.21 25 Semi-Conductor Laboratory 25.00 27.50 41.12 26 Earth Observation-New Missions 0.00 0.00 30.00 (GEO-HR and Altika - Argos) Sub- Total 868.67 368.66 562.77

27 Satish Dhawan Space Centre - SHAR 153.41 175.35 198.94 28 Second Launch Pad & Common Facilities 0.00 0.00 0.00 ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command 29 55.97 79.47 63.35 Network 30 ISRO Radar Development Unit (ISRAD) 1.86 2.71 4.49

Sub- Total 211.24 257.53 266.78

TOTAL : A - SPACE TECHNOLOGY 2326.77 1726.49 2350.70

B SPACE APPLICATIONS 1 Space Applications Centre 128.15 126.14 149.14 Development & Educational Communication 2 161.97 119.50 85.36 Unit 3 Earth Observation Applications Mission 8.68 6.94 3.97 National Natural Resources Management 4 54.00 52.12 53.97 System 5 Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres 8.28 8.87 13.70 National Remote Sensing Agency( incl. Aid 6 20.02 20.02 30.02 Equipment) 7 North Eastern Space Applications Centre 3.00 3.00 5.00 8 Disaster Management Support 24.35 26.47 70.00

TOTAL : B - SPACE APPLICATIONS 408.45 363.06 411.16

C SPACE SCIENCES 1 Physical Research Laboratory 39.10 41.10 46.52 2 ISRO Geosphere-Biosphere Programme 7.68 8.05 25.32

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 17 of 22

3 Payload Development/Planetary Science 5.60 10.30 23.25 (Rs. in crores)

Budget Re Sl. Programmes/Projects/Centres/Units 2006-2007 20 No. 4 Megha-tropiques Project 28.50 15 5 Indian Lunar Mission-Chandrayaan-1 142.75 115 6 Astrosat 56.45 35 7 National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) 7.28 7.7 8 Sponsored Research (RESPOND) 15.00 14 9 Atmospheric Science Programme 0.00 0.0 10 Small Satellites for Atmospheric Studies 0.00 0.0 11 Other Schemes 17.78 18

TOTAL : C - SPACE SCIENCES 320.14 266 D DIRECTION & ADMINISTRATION/ OTHER PROGRAMMES 1 Department of Space Secretariat 4.60 4.8 2 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Hq 18.36 22 3 Civil Engineering Division 17.06 17 4 International Co-operation 3.43 3.4 5 Other Programmes 123.26 135 (Spl inidgenisation, advance ordering,etc.) TOTAL D: DIRECTION, ADMINISTRATION 166.71 183 OTHER PROGRAMMES E INSAT OPERATIONAL 1 INSAT-3 Satellites 68.10 81 2 INSAT-3 Launch Services 1.00 0.1 3 INSAT-4 Satellites(Including leasing of transponders) 218.75 182 4 INSAT-4 Launch Services 60.00 160 5 Master Control Facility 40.50 34

TOTAL : E - INSAT OPERATIONAL 388.35 458

GRAND TOTAL : GROSS 3610.42 299

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 18 of 22

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The Committee commends the efforts of the Department in achieving an Annual Budget Utilisation of more than 99% of the final approved grant during the Tenth Five year Plan period, which points towards the fact that the plans and targets have been practically set and realistic budget projections have been made for the targeted schemes. The Committee desires that in future too budget provisions should be made on realistic estimates; so that there is no need for surrender of funds at a later stage. (Para 12.2) 2. The Committee desires that the overall thrust of the Space Programme during 11th Plan should be to sustain and strengthen the already established space-based services towards socio-economic development of the country. Efforts should also be made towards increasing the commercial prospects of the developments of the country in the field of space science specially in the area of Launch Vehicle Development. The Committee also desires that the country scale new heights during the 11th plan period in the space applications for communication, broadcasting, remote sensing, launch vehicle technology etc. (Para 13.3) 3. The Committee desires that the existing reviewing mechanisms developed by the Department to monitor and review the progress of the ongoing schemes/projects before formulating/finalizing proposals for budgetary support should be strengthened to eliminate the scope of shortage or surrender of funds at a later stage. (Para 14.2) 4. The Committee commends the role of the Indian Space Scientists in successfully conducting the SRE-I experiments and desires that the technology demonstrated through the experiment should provide inputs for the design of reusable launch vehicles and manned space missions in near future. (Para 15.2) 5. The Committee desires that the Chandrayaan-1 mission progresses as per schedule and the spacecraft should be ready for launch in 2008. The Committee desires that the Chandrayaan-1 mission should upgrade India’s space technological capabilities and would in future help in launching manned missions to moon. (Para 16.4) 6. The Committee feels that through the EDUSAT a long-felt need to provide connectivity and transfer of knowledge among the technical/medical institutes would be met. This would help the students in technical/medical institutes which lack infrastructure to get quality education. The Committee further desires that the proposal for connecting schools through the EDUSAT programme should be expedited in coordination with the Ministry of Human Resource Development and attention should be paid towards including schools in the backward and rural areas. (Para 17.4) 7. The Committee feels that in a country like India, investment in a highly capital intensive area like Public Health may not be always possible, particularly in the backward areas of the country.

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 19 of 22

Telemedicine provides an excellent alternative option to provide the services of the best medical specialists to the farthest corner of the country. The Committee therefore recommends that the telemedicine network should be expanded further to include the areas which have been left out so far. (Para 18.2) 8. The Committee understands that a lot of economic devastation and human loss is caused regularly by the floods, cyclones, storms etc. In this direction the Committee recommends that the work relating to the development of the Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar for aircraft survey for disaster management and the setting up of Virtual Private Network (VPN) may be expedited, particularly in view of the increased budgetary allocation, so that the country may derive the benefits of the Disaster Management System(DMS) at the earliest. The Committee also recommends that when the DMS is in place, proper attention may be given towards the quick dissemination of information to the District Headquarters after the data is obtained from the satellites, so that human and material losses can be minimised. (Para 19.4) 9. The Committee commends the Department on the setting up of a specialized Institute to generate the quality manpower required for the Space Programme. The Committee observes that only one Institute with an intake of around 20 is proposed to be set up and therefore recommends that the possibility of setting up of more such Institutes in the rest of the country may be explored. The intake of students may also be increased gradually to cater to the growing requirement of space scientists. (Para 20.3) 10. After considering the Demands for Grants of the Department of Space and assessing the progress of various important programmes and projects administered by it, the Committee recommends that the budgetary allocation of Rs.3858.60 Crores under Demand No. 88 as sought by the Department for the year 2007-08 may be approved. (Para 21) MINUTES

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 20 of 22

XI ELEVENTH MEETING

The Committee met at 11.00 a.m. on Monday, the 2nd April, 2007 in Room No. 139, First Floor, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi.

PRESENT

1. Shri P.G.Narayanan –– Chairman

RAJYA SABHA 2. Dr. Prabha Thakur 3. Shri Suryakantbhai Acharya 4. Shri Bhagirathi Majhi 5. Shri Saman Pathak 6. Shri Jabir Husain 7. Dr. Barun Mukherjee

LOK SABHA 8. Dr. Sujan Chakraborty 9. Shri Thupstan Chhewang 10. Shri Francis Fanthome 11. Shri Babubhai K. Katara 12. Smt. Neeta Pateriya 13. Shri Bachi Singh ‘Bachda’ Rawat 14. Shri K.C. Singh “Baba” 15. Smt. Jayaben B. thakkar 16. Shri Sita Ram Yadav

SECRETARIAT Shri R.K.Singh, Officer on Special Duty Shri Alok Chatterjee, Deputy Secretary

* * *

Representatives of the Department of Space 1. Shri G. Madhavan Nair, Secretary 2. Shri S.V. Ranganath, Additional Secretary 3. Dr. R.G. Nadadur, Joint Secretary 4. Shri K. S. Krishnan, Director (Budget & Parl.), DOS 5. Shri V. Sundararamaiah, Scientific Secretary, ISRO 6. Shri H.N. Madhusudhana, Director, BEA, ISRO HQ 7. Shri A. Bhaskaranarayana, Director, SCPO, ISRO HQ 8. Dr. V. Jayaraman, Director, EOS, ISRO HQ 9. Shri K.R. Sridhara Murthy, Executive Director, ANTRIX

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 21 of 22

10. Dr. V.S. Hegde, Director, EOS/PD, DMS 11. Dr. Radhika Ramachandran, Officer on Special Duty, DOS

2. * * * 3. The Committee, thereafter, adjourned at 01.45 p.m. for lunch and re-assembled at 03.00 p.m. to hear the Secretary, Department of Space.

4. The Chairman welcomed the Secretary and other officials of the Department of Space and requested the Secretary to make a brief presentation regarding the Demands for Grants (2007-08) of the Department. Thereafter, the Secretary made a visual presentation regarding the major activities formulated for the year 2007-08 and achievements of the Department during the year 2006-07. The Secretary also mentioned about the budgetary allocations under different heads as also the functioning of the Department.

5. The Committee, thereafter, adjourned at 04.00 p.m. for tea and re-assembled at 04.30 p.m. The Members then sought clarifications on the points that emerged out of the presentation of the Secretary.

The officials then withdrew.

A verbatim record of the proceedings was kept.

6. The Committee then adjourned at 05.40 p.m. to meet again at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday, the 3rd April, 2007. ______*** Relates to other matters. XIV FOURTEENTH MEETING The Committee met at 11.00 a.m. on Friday, the 20th April, 2007 in Room No. ‘63’, First Floor, Parliament House, New Delhi. PRESENT 1. Shri P.G. Narayanan ----- Chairman RAJYA SABHA

2. Shri Kamal Akhtar 3. Shri Jabir Husain 4. Dr. Barun Mukherjee

LOK SABHA

5. Dr. Sujan Chakraborty 6. Shri Thupstan Chhewang 7. Shri Francis Fanthome 8. Shri Brahmananda Panda

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008 175th Report of Committee On Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Page 22 of 22

9. Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil 10. Shri Bachi Singh ‘Bachda’ Rawat 11. Shri Aruna Kumar Vundavalli 12. Shri Mitrasen Yadav

SECRETARIAT

Shri R.K. Singh, Officer on Special Duty Shri Alok Chatterjee, Deputy Secretary Shri S. Rangarajan, Committee Officer 2. The Committee took-up for consideration its draft ***, ***, ***, ***, ***, 175th and *** Reports on the Demands for Grants (2007-2008) pertaining to the ***; ***; ***; ***; ***; *** and Department of Space respectively. The Committee adopted all the reports with some minor changes. 3. * * * 4. The Committee also decided to present all the seven reports (170th to 176th) on 26th April, 2007 in both the Houses of Parliament. The Committee authorized its Chairman and in his absence Dr. Barun Mukherjee to present the reports in Rajya Sabha and to lay the copies of the reports on the table of Lok Sabha by Dr. Sujan Chakraborty and in his absence by Shri Thupstan Chhewang.

5. * * * 6. The Committee then adjourned at 12.05 p.m. ______*** Relates to other matters.

# Smt.Viplove Thakur ceased to be a Member of the Committee w.e.f. 30th November, 2006 * Shri Rampal Singh Nominated to the Committee w.e.f. 8th December, 2006.

http://10.21.217.2/book2/reports/science/175threport.htm 7/16/2008