Srinagar 24 November (KNB): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday gave its approval for continuation of the umbrella scheme “Ocean Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)” of Ministry of Earth Sciences, for implementation during the period from 2021-26 at an overall cost of Rs. 2177 crore.
As per an official communique, the scheme encompasses seven sub-schemes namely Ocean Technology, Ocean Modelling and Advisory Services (OMAS), Ocean Observation Network (OON), Ocean Non-Living Resources, Marine Living Resources and Ecology (MLRE), Coastal Research and Operation and Maintenance of Research Vessels.
“These sub-schemes are being implemented by autonomous/attached institutes of the Ministry, viz. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai; Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad; National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, Center for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi; and National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Chennai as well as involving other national institutes. A fleet of oceanographic and coastal research vessels of the Ministry provide required research support for the scheme,” it added.
It further said that the research and technology development pertaining to oceans in India was initiated by the Department of Ocean Development (DoD), which was set up in 1981 which later merged to the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and continuing since then. “MoES has achieved a significant position in Oceanographic research through technology developments, forecast services, field installations, explorations, survey, technology demonstrations towards national benefits. The O-SMART scheme encompassing oceanographic research activities is being implemented with the objectives for providing forecast and services based on the continuous observation of our oceans, development of technologies and exploratory surveys for sustainable harnessing of our oceanic resources (both living and non-living) and promotion of front-ranking research in ocean sciences,” it added.
It further said that several major milestones have been achieved through the activities of the scheme, the most significant is India’s recognition as Pioneer Investor with International Seabed Authority (ISA) for conducting extensive research on deep sea mining of Poly Metallic Nodules (PMN) and hydrothermal sulphides in the allotted area of the Indian Ocean. “The technology development for desalination using low temperature thermal desalination installation of such facilities in Lakshadweep islands is also a significant achievement. Moreover, India’s ocean related activities are now extended from the Arctic to Antarctic region covering large ocean space which have been monitored through in-situ and satellite-based observation. India has taken a leadership role in implementing the Indian Ocean component of the Global Ocean Observing System in Intergovernmental,” it added. (KNB)