NHT
Panaji, Feb 16: The Union Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Prithviraj Chavan on Monday said the Centre is committed to support Goa’s progress and development; that for the larger cities in the state through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and the smaller towns and villages by way of other central schemes.
“The Centre will also provide funds for extending laboratories in Goa, as well as setting up educational institutions in the state,” he added.
Addressing a press conference at the National Institute of Oceanography, the Union Minister for Science and Technology said that any new scheme proposed by the state would receive substantial aid from the Centre; however, while doing so care should be taken to maintain the character and identity of the state, especially by undertaking responsible tourism.
Earlier, Mr Chavan, who is on Goa tour, visited the National Centre for Antarctica and Ocean Research at Vasco, and then inaugurated the extension of main building of the NIO at Dona Paula, which houses a number of state-of-the-art equipment for multidisciplinary specialised studies, including sedimentary analysis, isotope studies and microbial ecology studies.
Speaking further, Mr Chavan said the Centre would spend around Rs 250 crore on the NIO for acquiring new research vessels; the research vessel RV Sindhu Sankalp has been recently acquired, while some others are in the construction stage.
Stating that no specific statement can be made about the effect of global warming on Goan coastline as well as Goa’s coastal waters, the Union Minister for Science and Technology said that global warming is a complex science and making any prediction is risky.
“The exact sea-level rise, change in the monsoon cycle or alteration in tropical disease pattern is hard to predict,” Mr Chavan maintained, observing that a number of scientists are working with complex modelling techniques and mathematical equations to make predictions in this respect.
“India has deputed a number of teams to carry out such studies, including Antarctica research, but the efforts have to be in collaboration with the international community,” he noted.
Speaking about the ongoing work of Indian teams at Antarctica, Mr Chavan said the teams worked on setting up three work stations at the icy territory -- Dakshin Gangotri has already been embedded in the snow, Maitri is still operational, while construction of Bharati, the third work station would start soon, with heavy machinery already transported for the purpose.
The Union Minister for Science and Technology informed that the work of NCAOR and NIO would go a long way for India claiming her right over additional sea area to exploit aquatic economic resources.
“The first 20 nautical miles is considered our territorial waters, while the next 200 nautical miles is our exclusive economic zone, and the matter is already settled,” he said, pointing out that waters beyond 220 nautical miles constitute the extended economic zone and Indian ocean research would assist the ministry for external affairs in putting up claims before the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as regards the extended economic zone.
On a parting note, Mr Chavan said the Union government is committed to support ocean research as that would help the country in learning the process of world climate change. “It would also help us in carrying out complex ocean negotiations and defending country’s side at the global level,” he concluded.
Replying to a question as regards the possible pollution caused by the offshore casinos anchored in river Mandovi, Mr Chavan said that since the casinos have been issued licences, the environmental impact assessment for them must naturally have been carried out.
“However, it is up to the state government to carry out a related survey through say, the National Environmental Research Institute, if there are any indications about river pollution,” he suggested.
The NCAOR director, Dr Rasik Ravindra and the NIO director, Dr Satish Shetye were also present during the press briefing.