More than a year after PM Narendra Modi first mooted the idea during the 18th Saarc summit held in Nepal in 2014, only Sri Lanka has formally agreed to join the Saarc satellite project. An Isro official told TOI on Thursday that the remaining six members, including Pakistan, have so far only given their approval in principle.
The official said that the apprehension of those who have not formally joined the project is that the mission will give India an upper hand among the SAARC members both politically and scientifically. Pakistan fears that the SAARC satellite will provide India an access to sensitive Pakistani data.
Provisionally, the semi-political Indian space mission is slated for lift off towards the end of 2016 or early 2017. The official said that even if the rest do not join, the satellite will still be launched, but it will have limited scope. Work on the satellite has already been initiated.
The Rs 235-crore project will provide a range of applications and services to Saarc members in the areas of telecommunication, broadcasting, DTH, disaster management, tele-education and tele-medicine. "We are hoping that the remaining six members will participate and the external affairs ministry is in touch with them,'' he said.(The Times of India)
You can share this post!
Content
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has interdicted Colombo Fort Magistrate Kosala Senadheera.
Mr. Ali Sabri Rahim, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Puttalam District whom an open warrant had been issued, attended a public ceremony at Al Aksha National School in Kalpitiya today (16) as the special guest of honor.
The Supreme Court today refused interim relief in an application filed by President’s Counsel Senaka Walgampaya seeking an Order from the Supreme Court compelling the President to appoint judges to fill the existing vacancies in the Court Of Appeal.
The deadline for online applications to the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) Examination has been extended until July 12, the Department of Examinations said.
Gazette on new speed limit regulations to be issued within two weeks
Leave Comments