Govt committed to sustainable, technology-driven development across J&K: Javid Dar

Awantipora, Oct 8: Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Cooperatives, Javid Ahmad Dar, Wednesday inaugurated the International Conference on “Mapping the Future of Sustainable Landscapes: Geospatial Innovation for People, Places and Practices” at Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) here.
The two day Conference organized by IUST in collaboration with the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) brings together global experts, academicians and policymakers to deliberate on the role of geospatial technologies in advancing sustainable development.
In his inaugural address, the Minister emphasized that the conference holds great relevance for the agriculture and horticulture sectors of Jammu & Kashmir, where geospatial innovations can help enhance productivity, resource management, and ecosystem conservation. He reiterated the J&K Government’s commitment to sustainable and technology-driven development, underscoring that science, innovation, and community participation must work together to address emerging environmental challenges.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo in his address highlighted IUST’s contributions to geospatial research and innovation and announced the establishment of a new incubator to develop a student-led “Kashmir Satellite” under the National 75 Student Satellite Mission.
The conference featured plenary sessions, technical presentations, and expert interactions focused on leveraging geospatial innovation for sustainability, resilience, and smart governance
Dr. Christian Heipke (Professor, Former President, ISPRS), Dr. Lena Halounova (President, ISPRS), Dr. Kohei Cho (General Secretary, Asian Association of Remote Sensing, Tokyo), and Dr. Shailesh Nayak (Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies, India),Prof. Ravindra Nath, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir,Prof. Anjana Vyas, Chairperson ICWG V4V, ISPRS, Prof. A. M. Moon, Dean Academic Affairs, Dr. Tariq Abdullah, Head, Dept. Of Geomatics and Dr. Jasia Bashir, Assistant Professor, Geomatics were present on the occasion.