Ocean Development dept in hot waters

However, this INDOEX project has not yet been officially cleared by the Defence Ministry and the cruise did not have the mandatory approval of the apex committee under the Cabinet Secretary.

The apex committee was set up in the 1970s to "most carefully" scrutinise every research collaboration with foreigners in areas like oceanography which may have a bearing on national security.

Defence Science Adviser APJ Abdul Kalam, a member of the apex committee, said the matter was notreferred to him.

Valangiman Ramamurthi, Secretary for Science and Technology and another member of the committee, confirmed that his approval was not sought before launching the expedition.

According to Ramamurthi, although security guidelines for foreign collaboration had been widely circulated, there had been a few violations in the past when his department had to step in and stop a project midway.

"If foreigners are present and the project involves exchange of data, we must be in the picture," Ramamurthi said.

Earlier, he had requested the Cabinet Secretary to have the security guidelines circulated once again to various Ministries.

According to DOD, the US scientists were on board the ship to collect field data on radiation and aerosols that may help to improve their global circulation model for weather prediction.

The American scientists have reportedly brought their own equipment.

The Sagar Kanya is also equipped to gather data like ocean profile, electrical conductivity, salinity andtemperature variations of sea water that are crucial for underwater warfare and submarine navigation.

DOD Secretary AE Muthunayagam said his department was only making available the ship and its facilities and that the project was organised by the Department of Space. Stating that he was not aware of the apex committee, he added that the cruise was cleared by naval intelligence. A naval scientist from the Directorate of Ocean Meteorology was also on board, he said.