Ministry : Ministry of Earth Sciences
Mission:
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The mission proposes to explore deep-ocean by emulating success of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in designing and launching satellites.
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For this mission, Centre has drawn up a five-year, Rs. 8,000 crore plan to explore deep recesses of the ocean.
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The focus of DOM is on deep-sea mining, ocean climate change advisory services, underwater vehicles and underwater robotics related technologies.
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Two key projects planned under it include desalination plant powered by tidal energy and submersible vehicle that can explore depths of at least 6,000 metres.
Why it is important?
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India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spreads over 2.2 million sq. km and in the deep sea, lies unexplored and unutilised.
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Besides, India has been allotted site of 1,50,000 sq. km in Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) by United Nations International Sea Bed Authority (UN-ISBA) for exploitation of polymetallic nodules (PMN).
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These are rocks scattered on seabed containing iron, nickel, manganese and cobalt.
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It is envisaged that 10% of recovery of that large reserve can meet energy requirement of India for next 100 years.
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It has been estimated that 380 million metric tonnes of polymetallic nodules are available at the bottom of the seas in CIOB.