NRSC Satellite Imagery Assists HYDRAA In Mapping Water Resources

Satellite data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) is playing a pivotal role in assisting the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to map, monitor and protect water bodies in and around Hyderabad, officials said this week. The collaboration underscores the growing use of space‑based geospatial tools in urban environmental management and land governance.

HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath told a symposium at the NRSC campus that high‑resolution satellite imagery and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data supplied by NRSC are being used to determine the Full Tank Level (FTL) boundaries and buffer zones of lakes, canals and other surface water bodies. These boundaries are crucial for preventing encroachments and managing stormwater infrastructure in the fast‑urbanising region.

NRSC’s datasets have also enabled HYDRAA to identify vanished lakes — roughly 61 per cent of historic lakes in the Outer Ring Road area are estimated to have disappeared — and provide accurate geospatial references where government records conflict. By overlaying historical satellite images with current data, officials can trace changes in land and water extents over time, offering empirical evidence in disputes brought forward by citizens.

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The agency has increasingly relied on these satellite‑derived insights for broader purposes beyond water bodies, including verifying government lands, parks, roads and nalas (stormwater channels). This technology is proving particularly useful during Praja Vani, HYDRAA’s weekly citizen grievance programme, where officials can visually demonstrate land use changes to resolve complaints on the spot.

The adoption of remote sensing data follows a formal memorandum of understanding between NRSC and HYDRAA signed last year, which set the framework for ongoing cooperation in disaster management, asset monitoring and verified information sharing. This agreement has strengthened HYDRAA’s capacity to enforce environmental protections and support sustainable urban planning.

Authorities emphasise that protecting Hyderabad’s remaining water bodies will be vital to the city’s resilience against climate stresses such as flooding and water scarcity. With satellite data providing a reliable and objective basis for mapping and enforcement, HYDRAA officials say they are better equipped to monitor water resources and counter illegal encroachments in a rapidly evolving urban landscape.

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