Government of India, in its Cabinet meeting held on 9th May, 2006, have approved formation of the Earth Commission and re-organization of Ministry of Ocean Development as Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The 21st century is likely to be dominated by concerns of water, global climate change, environment, land use and ocean resources. The need for taking up an integrated view of Earth System Sciences, i.e. land-ocean-atmosphere is being reorganized across the world. The Indian effort at the Earth System Science is being independently taken by individual units like Ministry of Ocean Development, India Meteorological Department, research institutes like Indian Institute of Science, IITs, a few laboratories of CSIR, etc.
The expanded Ministry of Earth Sciences will create a framework for undertaking the complex interactions among key elements of the Earth System, namely ocean, atmosphere and solid earth, by encompassing the national programmes in meteorology, climate, environment and seismology, fully incorporating the existing role of Ministry of Ocean Development. The Earth System Organization will act as an executive mechanism under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, consisting of two major entities (i) Ocean Science and Technology Department, and (ii) India Meteorological Department. In addition, the Earth System Organization would have, at its Headquarters, the Ministry of Earth Sciences office and the Programme Offices for managing the interdisciplinary coordination among the entities/the constituents of the entities in its jurisdiction and units engaged in similar work in other departments, academic institutions and research bodies. The Ocean Science and Technology Department would consist of the existing Centres and Attached Offices of the Ministry of Ocean Development. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) would consist of the existing IMD, a strengthened Seismological Institute and the corresponding
components (like Earthquake Risk Evaluation Centre and Programme Personnel) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forescasting (NCMRWF) would report to ESO.
The Earth Commission, an empowered body for taking an integrated view of the Earth Systems, will consist of maximum of 12 Members including representation of the user Ministries/Departments. The Commission will have powers of the Government of India, both administrative and financial for carrying out the work of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Earth Commission will be patterned on the lines of Atomic Energy Commission/space Commission for delegation of function and authority.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences will provide the nation with best possible services in forecasting the monsoons and other weather/climate parameters, ocean state, earthquakes, tsunamis and other phenomena related to earth systems through well integrated programmes and utilizing the best that science and technology can offer at the highest international standards. In addition, the Ministry will work on science and technology for exploration and exploitation and of ocean resources (living and non-living), and play nodal role for Antarctic/Arctic and Southern Ocean Research. It will offer extensive data resources and set up appropriate decision support systems to serve the interest of the common man; support agriculture related and other industrial and scientific activities; closely work with other agencies both public and private to provide them S&T support and assist in ensuring adequate preparedness for handling natural disasters.
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(Release ID :20767)