Image credits: jagran josh
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Science on “Deep Ocean Mission” with the view to explore the deep ocean for resources and develop deep-sea technologies for the sustainable use of ocean resources.
The estimate cost of the mission would be around Rs.4077 crore for a period of 5 years to be implemented in a phase wise manner. The estimated cost for the first phase for 3 years from the year 2021 to 2024 would be of Rs.2823.4 crore.
The Deep Ocean Mission will be a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India. Ministry of Earth Sciences will be the nodal Ministry implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission. The technologies required for deep-sea mining have strategic implications and are not commercially available. The attempt will be made to indigenise technologies by collaborating with the leading institutions and private industries.
Employment opportunities would open up as a research vessel for the deep ocean exploration would be built in an Indian Shipyard. The mission is also directed for the capacity development in Marine Biology which would provide job opportunities. The design development, and fabrication of specialised equipment, ships, and setting up of infrastructure will be resulting in the growth of Indian industries, especially the start-ups.
About 95% of the deep oceans remain unexplored. India, with it’s three side surrounded by the oceans, the ocean is a major economic factor for the people living around the coastal areas.
Oceans are a storehouse of food, energy, minerals, medicines, climate, etc. Considering the importance of the oceans on sustainability, the UN has declared the decade 2021 to 2030 as the “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.”
India with a unique maritime position, has a 7517 km long coastline which is home to 9 coastal states and 1382 islands. The Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030 had highlighted the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.