Under the special initiative taken by the Prime Minister, Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Department of Ocean Development (DOD) was created in July 1981 as a nodal and independent department under the direct charge of PM for organising, coordinating and promoting ocean development activities. Immediately after the formation of the Department, Ocean Policy Statement was prepared and brought out in 1982. The Ocean Policy Statement is primarily aimed at utilisation of marine living and non-living resources for societal befits in a sustainable manner.
Considering India’s long coastline 37 per cent of her population deriving benefits from the seas, this was an extraordinary visionary step. Mrs. Gandhi had the foresight to create a full-fledged Department to follow. This was most significant considering the vast EEZ of 2 million square km coupled with additional 1 to 1.5 million of continental shelf estimated to follow as against the land area of 3.28 million sq. km. even some developed countries , with larger maritime areas had not thought of creation of a separate entity or Department as envisioned by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The luminary and pragmatic vision of Mrs. Gandhi has borne fruits with several strides in Ocean Development with significant landmarks.
The Department started functioning from Mahasagar Bhavan and made a beginning with introduction of programmes in Polar Science and Poly-Metallic Nodules. In the course of the last two decades, DOD has achieved several significant successes in the direction, and is now poised for making impressive strides in the near future. Also the Potential Fishing Zone Information for fishermen, technology development for fattening of lobsters, first pilot wave power plant of Asia at Vizhingam in 1987 are some of the significant outcomes directed towards social benefits. All programmes of the Department are in line with the Ocean Policy Statement.
Salient features of the Policy Statement and thrust areas include: (a) Exploratory survey, assessment and sustainable utilisation/harnessing of the ocean resources including living, non-living and renewable sources of ocean energy. (b) Technological advances geared to the utilisation and preservation of the marine environment. (c) Development of technology relating to instrumentation, diving systems, position fixing, materials development, oceanic data collecting devices, submersibles, etc. (d) Developmental activities related to integrated coastal and marine area management, coastal community development, etc., with direct application to the welfare of the society. (e) Establishment of an ocean related information system using indigenous and foreign sources; International co-operation in Ocean Science and Technology. (f) Development of technologies relating to seabed mining, extractive metallurgy and conducting Environmental Impact Assessment studies. (g) Contribution towards front ranking research in polar sciences. (h) Basic and applied research in Ocean Science and Technology, Human Resource Management, creation of Centres of Excellence in academic institutions and public awareness on the potential and uses of ocean.
Considering the need for capacity building and specialised skilled human resources as emphasised in the Ocean Policy Statement, Department of Ocean Development has established national institutes, viz. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) at Chennai, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) at Goa, Indian National Centre for Ocean and Information Services (INCOIS) at Hyderabad, Project Directorate, Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management (PD-ICMAM) at Chennai and Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) at Kochi.
The Department has been converted into Ministry of Ocean Development in February 2006 and now the Ministry has been re-organised as Ministry of Earth Sciences on 12 July 2006.
The underlying philosophy of the programmes and activities undertaken by the then Department are one of sustainable and environment-friendly exploration and utilisation of marine living and non-living resources for the socioeconomic benefit of the country. This is addressed through a wide range of subjects and activities viz. Polymetallic Nodules Programme, Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management, Ocean Observation and Information Services, Assessment of the Marine Living Resources, etc.
The Vision Statement highlighting the Perspective Plan 2015 of the Department of Ocean Development was formulated in the year 2002 stipulating the Vision, the Mission, the Mandate and the Priority Areas, to be pursued by the Department over the next decade. A number of new initiatives have been introduced during the 10th Five-Year Plan period, which inter alia include Gas Hydrate Exploration and Technology Development for Assessment, Comprehensive Swath Bathymetric Survey of Indian EEZ, Geophysical study of Laxmi Basin, etc. Further, considering the devastating effect of Tsunami in Andaman's and east coast, a new major initiative for setting up Tsunami Warning System for Indian Ocean has been taken up. The major programmes of the Ministry being implemented during the 10th Plan are described below:
