*New initiatives to aid communication, farming, disaster safety
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 21: The Union Territory of Ladakh is emerging as a key focus area for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with several dedicated initiatives underway to strengthen communication, resource management, and disaster preparedness in the high-altitude Himalayan region.
According to details shared in Parliament, ISRO has rolled out multiple Ladakh-centric projects that directly address the region’s developmental and environmental needs. Among the most significant is the Ladakh Modelling and Space Applications (LAMA) project, which uses advanced satellite data for scientific investigations of natural resources, climate change, and environmental challenges unique to the region. A customized dynamic geoportal has also been developed to help assess and manage Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem.
In addition, ISRO has created the Geo-Ladakh Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) portal, a centralized platform designed to support local planning and development. This geoportal assists in areas such as agriculture and horticulture management, identification of sites for artificial glaciers, conservation of scarce water resources, renewable energy mapping, and flood hazard assessment.
For urban development, ISRO has implemented AMRUT-1.0, which has generated a large-scale geospatial database for Leh and Kargil towns, paving the way for GIS-based master plans. Under AMRUT-2.0, a water-body information system is being developed for both towns to improve water management in the arid landscape. Furthermore, ISRO has undertaken Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Change Analysis to track ecological and land pattern shifts in Ladakh between 2020-21 and 2025-26.
Disaster resilience remains a major focus, with ISRO’s Disaster Management Support Programme (DMSP) providing satellite-based data to help authorities manage hazards such as flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods, and landslides that pose recurring risks to local communities.
Adding to its strategic value, Ladakh will soon host an advanced astronomical facility. Under ISRO’s NETRA project (Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis), an optical telescope is being set up at Hanle to track objects in geostationary orbit. This project not only enhances India’s space situational awareness but also places Ladakh at the centre of the country’s space research infrastructure.
With these Ladakh-specific initiatives, experts say the region is set to become a hub for space-based applications in natural resource management, climate studies, and disaster preparedness, while also gaining prominence in India’s strategic space research map.
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