DEVELOPMENTS IN EARTH SCIENCES

DEVELOPMENTS IN EARTH SCIENCES

Significant developments have been made to improve the monitoring and forecasting of severe weather events through augmenting the observational network in the country that include the following since 2014:

Agro-meteorological advisory services (AAS) have been extended to the block level from district level since 2018. At present, AAS is provided to all the agriculturally important 700 districts and around 3100 blocks in the country.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched the Deep Ocean Mission in 2021 to explore deep sea resources to support the blue economy and for sustainable harnessing of ocean resources. So far, an extensive survey and exploration work has been carried out in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for polymetallic nodules (Nickel, Cobalt, Copper and Manganese, etc.) and in Central and South West Indian ridges for hydrothermal sulphide (Copper, Zinc, etc.). This exploration has identified few promising locations of hydrothermal activity and sulphide mineralization zones in the area.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.