<p class="title">The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 1,600-crore programme to harness ocean resources and keep an eye on coastal pollution.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the Rs 1,623 crore Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART) programmme the Ministry of Earth Sciences would undertake 16 projects in the next two years to mine ocean resources in a sustainable manner, improving the services to fishermen and purchase of two coastal research vessels.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The programme would also include setting up an ocean thermal energy conversion plant at Kavaratti and six desalination plant units at Lakshadweep islands.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The approval was accorded by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Other targets are strengthening of ocean observations and modelling, boosting the services rendered to fishermen; establishment of marine coastal observatories for monitoring marine pollution in 2018, a continuation of ocean Survey and exploration of minerals and living resources and technology development for the more ambitious deep-sea mining plan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“With land resources turning to be inadequate to meet future demands, India has embarked on blue economy for effective and efficient use of the vast ocean resources in a sustainable way, which would require collecting a lot more information on ocean science, development of technology and providing services,” says a government press note.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Since it came out with an ocean policy statement in 1982, India undertook multiple ocean projects to harness oceanic resources.</p>.<p class="bodytext">International Sea Bed Authority accorded an area of 75,000 sq km in the central Indian Ocean to India for exploration of polymetallic nodules rich in several valuable metals.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In addition, another 10,000 sq km area in the Indian Ocean was allotted to India for exploration of hydrothermal sulphides— another potential source for minerals.</p>
<p class="title">The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 1,600-crore programme to harness ocean resources and keep an eye on coastal pollution.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the Rs 1,623 crore Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART) programmme the Ministry of Earth Sciences would undertake 16 projects in the next two years to mine ocean resources in a sustainable manner, improving the services to fishermen and purchase of two coastal research vessels.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The programme would also include setting up an ocean thermal energy conversion plant at Kavaratti and six desalination plant units at Lakshadweep islands.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The approval was accorded by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Other targets are strengthening of ocean observations and modelling, boosting the services rendered to fishermen; establishment of marine coastal observatories for monitoring marine pollution in 2018, a continuation of ocean Survey and exploration of minerals and living resources and technology development for the more ambitious deep-sea mining plan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“With land resources turning to be inadequate to meet future demands, India has embarked on blue economy for effective and efficient use of the vast ocean resources in a sustainable way, which would require collecting a lot more information on ocean science, development of technology and providing services,” says a government press note.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Since it came out with an ocean policy statement in 1982, India undertook multiple ocean projects to harness oceanic resources.</p>.<p class="bodytext">International Sea Bed Authority accorded an area of 75,000 sq km in the central Indian Ocean to India for exploration of polymetallic nodules rich in several valuable metals.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In addition, another 10,000 sq km area in the Indian Ocean was allotted to India for exploration of hydrothermal sulphides— another potential source for minerals.</p>
