Kumari fishermen get ISRO-developed NaVIC instrument for weather alerts

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday distributed the first set of 200 NaVIC instruments at the Secretariat to fishermen, involved in deep sea fishing. The 200 NaVIC instruments which were procured from the ISRO were given to 80 fishing groups.

NaVIC, is a satellite navigation system that provides real-time positioning, like GPS, of the USA. With NaVIC technology equipped instrument fishermen will receive real-time messages on the climatic conditions and natural calamities such as cyclones, earthquakes and tsunamis and can act according to the prevailing conditions.

The alert will be sent to the NaVIC instrument directly from satellites and from the instrument the alert will be sent to the fishermen’s smartphones via Bluetooth. The phone will automatically convert the alert into a message in English and in local languages to enable fishermen to act immediately.

Kanniyakumari fishermen are in the first batch to receive NaVIC instruments as they were the worst affected by Cyclone Ockhi. An official attached to Fisheries Department said that fishermen equipped with NaVIC will receive the alert even if they are fishing in deep sea and it will enable them to reach the coast immediately.

The official also said that government is planning to distribute NaVIC instruments to fishermen across the state to ensure that the weather updates reach them on time and there is no further loss of lives due to natural calamities.

Inaugurates Nisargruna biogas plant

The Chief Minister also inaugurated two biogas plants, installed with Nisargruna technology, in government slaughter house in Pulianthope, in Chennai.

The biogas plant has the capacity of 5 metric tonnes. The Nisargruna biogas plant was developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the plant installed in the government slaughter house can convert animal wastes into electricity. The total cost of the plant was Rs 1.96 crore.

Nisargruna biogas plant is one of the effective ways to turn waste into resources. The biogas plant can produce up to 30 kilograms of methane and 50 kg of quality organic manure from one tonne of biodegradable wastes.

Weed-free manure obtained from such waste has high nitrogen contents and acts as an excellent soil conditioner. This plant could be set up for eco-friendly disposal of wet-waste generated in residential and commercial complexes and can avoid health hazards due to dumping.

The Nisargruna biogas plant is setup in Chennai under Swachh Bharat Scheme.