Ocean Development, now Ministry of Earth Sciences

Signalling a change of perspective, the government has reorganised the Ministry of Ocean Development as the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Signalling a change of perspective, the government has reorganised the Ministry of Ocean Development as the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Besides, an Earth Commission will be set up on the lines of the Atomic Energy and Space Commissions.

Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said the Ministry of Earth Sciences will have two major entities under it — Ocean Science and Technology and the India Meteorological Department.

The Earth Commission, with 12 members, will be at the apex with administrative and financial powers while an Earth System Organisation (on par with Indian Space Research Organisation) will act as the executive mechanism under the ministry.

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The secretary of the ministry will head the Earth Commission and the Earth System Organisation. The principle secretary to the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and member secretary of the Planning Commission will be among the members of the Earth Commission.

Sibal said the revamp was necessitated to formulate an integrated approach towards issues concerning land, ocean and atmosphere as these impacted water, global climate change, environment and ocean resources, all of areas of concern in the 21st century.

‘‘The previous structure was not adequate. IMD was working independent of the Department of Science and Technology and there was a complete disconnect between the two,’’ he said. The ministry will help in developing an early warning system for natural disasters among other things.

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