O-SMART scheme

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

Information about O- SMART was given by the Union Minister of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha

Concept:

The objectives of O-SMART (Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources and Technology) scheme of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India are

• To generate and regularly update information on Marine Living Resources and their relationship with the physical environment in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
• To periodically monitor levels of sea water pollutants for health assessment of coastal waters of India, to develop shoreline change maps for assessment of coastal erosion due to natural and anthropogenic activities
• To develop a wide range of state-of-the art ocean observation systems for acquisition of real-time data from the seas around India,
• To generate and disseminate a suite of user-oriented ocean information, advisories, warnings, data and data products for the benefit of society
• To develop high resolution models for ocean forecast and reanalysis system
• To develop algorithms for validation of satellite data for coastal research and to monitor changes in the coastal research
• Acquisition of 2 Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) as replacement of 2 old CRVs for coastal pollution monitoring, testing of various underwater components and technology demonstration
• To develop technologies to tap the marine bio resources and generating freshwater and energy from ocean
• To carryout exploration of Polymetallic Nodules (MPN) from water depth of 5500m in site of 75000 sq.km allotted to India by United Nations in Central Indian Ocean Basin, to carryout investigations of gas hydrates