Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana has been conferred with the Open-Source GIS Cohort Award for effectively utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to solve public issues like:
- Flood prediction during Godavari River floods,
- Skill development, and
- Data integration from various departments to aid decision-making.
Key Highlights
- The district hosted India’s first-ever Open Source GIS Conference, in collaboration with geospatial tech experts.
- GIS-based systems were introduced at the local level involving students and district officials.
- Recognized for GIS-driven rural problem-solving and multi-departmental data convergence.
- Enabled real-time flood prediction and rural skilling during natural disasters like the Godavari floods.
Background
- Bhadradri Kothagudem was the first district in India to launch an “Open Source GIS Cohort”, in partnership with IIT Bombay – FOSSEE GIS project.
- Training was provided in QGIS (Quantum GIS) for solving rural issues.
- Use cases included:
- Identification of flood-prone villages,
- Monitoring student health in PHC areas,
- Promoting Moringa (drumstick) farming to replace cotton cultivation,
- Enhancing goat rearing and milk production through data analysis.
District Profile: Bhadradri Kothagudem
- Geographically the largest district in Telangana.
- Tribal population: Around 37%.
- Known for:
- Tribal-led inclusive development,
- Agriculture-based livelihood initiatives.
Significance
- Promotes tech-based governance at the district level.
- Strengthens climate resilience through early warning systems.
- Sets a model for data-driven rural planning using open-source platforms.
- Empowers local students and tribal communities with digital geospatial literacy.
Key Facts
- QGIS: Free and open-source geographic information system used for geospatial data analysis.
- FOSSEE (Free/Libre and Open Source Software for Education): An initiative by IIT Bombay to promote open-source tools in academia.
- Godavari River: Second longest river in India, flows through Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha.