States » EastPosted at: Oct 8 2026 7:26PM


Odisha to use drones, robots for faster environmental monitoring

Bhubaneswar, Oct 8 (UNI) Odisha is set to deploy drones and robotic technology to strengthen environmental surveillance and make pollution monitoring faster, more scientific and data-driven, as the State Pollution Control Board moves to upgrade its monitoring and enforcement systems.
The decision was discussed at the 135th Board meeting of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg at the State Secretariat on Thursday. The meeting reviewed measures to strengthen the Board’s technical capabilities, modernise laboratories and improve real-time environmental monitoring.
The Board plans to use robotic technology for water-sample collection and environmental monitoring, while expanding drone-based surveillance of air quality. A Command and Control Centre proposed at the newly established OPCB headquarters will integrate laboratory data, water-quality test results and air-monitoring data to enable faster analysis and decision-making.
The meeting also accorded special focus to strengthening coastal surveillance. The Coastal Environment Surveillance Centre (CESC) at Paradip has been proposed for development as a state-level nodal centre for coastal environmental monitoring and analysis.
Garg said the Paradip facility should evolve beyond a laboratory into an integrated centre combining science, data and technology for effective protection of the coastal environment.
The meeting also reviewed plans to strengthen OPCB’s field infrastructure through construction of regional offices at Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, Keonjhar and Sambalpur, besides modernising the Patia laboratory.
The Chief Secretary stressed incorporating green-building features, rainwater harvesting, solar power and vermicomposting in new infrastructure.
The Board also discussed an Odisha Waste Atlas to map waste generation, availability, demand and movement, besides promoting research on waste-based technologies with academic and research institutions. It also stressed making OPCB’s annual report more accessible through simplified data, charts and digital presentations.UNI MK AAB
Tags: #Odisha to use drones# robots for faster environmental monitoring
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