In a significant move to put an impact based flood forecasting mechanism in place, the Union Territory of J&K is joining hands with the UK Space Agency's programme for collaborative projects on 'Impact Based Flood Forecasting using Earth Observation (EO) based Information'.<br />''<br />''The National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) is a new programme established by the UK Space Agency which supports collaborative projects between UK organisations and international partners. The project will be undertaken by HR Wallingford in collaboration with Oxford University, Sayers & Partners (SPL), and D-Orbit (UK).<br />''<br />''Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha termed the Impact-based forecasting as the next step of flood forecasting services. He said having impact-based forecasts of flood risks will be useful for efficient, effective contingency planning and swift evaluation of severity for necessary response. The LG observed that the international collaboration adds specific value in helping to analyze past flood events and identifying relationships between predicted floods and their impact. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">In J&K, there is no effective impact based flood forecasting mechanism in place as such. It is a big initiative taken by the LG and will help predict fluvial flood risks, in terms of expected loss to life, injuries to people, building collapse, infrastructure disruption, and economic damage. The framework will be capable of being linked to any existing or future flood flow forecasting system. The UT Government will not have to bear any expenses on the project.</span><br />