The secretary at the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), M Rajeevan said that India is all set to initiate “Deep Ocean Mission”, to explore minerals, energy and marine diversity in the underwater world.
INDIA GETTING READY TO EXPLORE DEEP 🌊 OCEAN MISSIONS
— Defence360 (@Defence_360) November 6, 2019
Setting another leg in deep-sea exploration is India’s own Union of Earth Sciences Ministry with its recent ‘Deep Ocean Mission' #DOM, which aims to explore the depths of the ocean for the possibilities of deep-sea mining. pic.twitter.com/yLtlFuEp5C
Secretary M Rajeevan said that the required approvals for the “futuristic and game-changing” mission are being obtained and the deep sea mission is likely to be launched in next three to four months and will cost around ₹4,000 crore.
This mission will also involve the development of technologies for different deep ocean initiatives which will be led by MoES and other organisations like the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
ISRO and DRDO will be developing some of the technologies involved.
India will soon launch a "Deep Ocean Mission" to explore minerals & marine diversity of the underwater world. In September 2016 India signed a 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority to explore Poly-Metallic Sulphides in the Indian Ocean.https://t.co/YOL1rlAqwc pic.twitter.com/4erS5GvDPl
— Strategic Frontier (@strategic_front) November 23, 2020
It would involve the design, development and demonstration of human submersibles and also explore the possibility of deep-sea mining and developing the necessary technologies.
ISRO has already completed designs for the Deep Sea Vehicle which can travel to depth of 6,000 metres below the surface. Submarines can reach only about 200 metres.
In 2018, the Narendra Modi government drew a five-year plan with a cost of ₹8,000 crore to mining, researching and studying the ocean floor which can help in decision making in climate change aspects. India has an Exclusive Economic Zone #EEZ of over 2.2 million sq km which lies unexplored and unutilised.