Resources Information System (NRIS): A strategic tool for decision making
February 2006, Anand Kumar, Development Alternatives.
The Natural Resources Information System (NRIS) is a database with information relating to land, water, forests, soils and socio-economic conditions of resource use from all over India. Having all this information integrated into one location can immensely systematise and speed up the decision-making processes related to resource use and conservation. The data stored in the NRIS is being sourced from remote sensing satellite imagery and national GIS banks. NRIS additionally stores thematic maps which are being used for decision making in land and water management planning. NRIS is a widely used decision-making tool in other countries, and in India provides an important addition to the set of instruments available for management of natural resources and the human settlements around them. Important issues pertaining to its use include ease of accessibility and relevance of information stored in the database.