CM Himanta Biswa Sarma urges young innovators to develop satellite, drone and AI-based solutions for flood management and early warnings
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on called for technology-driven solutions to strengthen flood preparedness, saying even a few additional hours of advance warning could help save lives and property.
Speaking at the launch of the North-East Seva First Innovation Challenge (NESFIC) in Guwahati, the Chief Minister referred to the recent floods in Sivasagar and Charaideo and highlighted the need for more effective early-warning systems.
“We have seen recent floods in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts… Perhaps, had we received a warning five or six hours earlier, several lives and properties could have been saved,” he said.
The Science and Technology Department has included flood management and early-warning systems among the challenges for the 2026 innovation programme. Other areas include satellite and drone applications, AI-based crop-health monitoring, wetland mapping and detection of encroachment on government land.
The Chief Minister said the initiative was intended to connect real-world challenges faced by communities, government institutions and industries with practical technology-based solutions.
The 2026 NESFIC challenge opened for applications on September 25, with themes also covering agriculture, climate and sustainability, healthcare, mobility, tourism and digital technologies.
The Chief Minister said the focus should be on innovations that can be implemented on the ground rather than creating technology merely for its own sake.
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