Puducherry: The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, and the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Puducherry, have signed a blue economy MoU to advance marine research, infrastructure development, and blue economy initiatives in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi by Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, and Dr Sharat Chauhan, Chief Secretary, Government of Puducherry.
The collaboration follows high-level engagements between the Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, and the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, K Kailashnathan, aimed at addressing regional maritime priorities.
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Blue Economy MoU Focus Areas for Sustainable Coastal Development
The MoU establishes a structured framework for cooperation across six strategic areas focused on sustainable development and climate adaptation.
- Sustainable Marine Fisheries
- The initiative will support livelihoods through deep-sea fishing promotion, seaweed cultivation, and identification of migratory routes and fishing grounds.
- Offshore Wind Energy:
- Feasibility studies and technical support will be provided to help diversify Puducherry’s energy portfolio through renewable energy development.
- Desalination Technologies:
- Seawater desalination plants will be deployed with technical assistance from MoES to address freshwater scarcity in coastal regions.
- Ocean Climate Advisory & Real-Time Monitoring:
- A dedicated observation infrastructure will be established in Puducherry to support reliable forecasting and climate-resilient planning.
- Permanent Coastal Management:
- Science-based shoreline monitoring and erosion-control measures will be implemented to safeguard coastal ecosystems.
- Marine Spatial Planning (MSP):
- The current Marine Spatial Planning pilot framework will be expanded into a fully operational model integrating offshore wind development, resource mapping, and marine sector planning.
Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, stated, “This partnership marks a significant step in our commitment to harnessing science for the benefit of coastal communities.
By integrating MoES’s technical expertise with Puducherry’s strategic maritime location, we are not only addressing immediate challenges like coastal erosion and expanding ocean services but also laying the foundation for a robust, sustainable Blue Economy.
Our focus remains on delivering end-to-end support – from real-time climate monitoring to the operationalization of advanced desalination and renewable energy technologies.”
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Blue Economy MoU: Implementation and Validity
Both parties will designate Nodal Officers and establish Joint Working Groups to oversee implementation.
The blue economy MoU will remain valid for an initial period of five years, with progress reviews conducted at least once a year.
The blue economy MoU event was attended by Dr M V Ramana Murthy (Mission Director, Deep Ocean Mission), D Senthil Pandian (Joint Secretary, MoES), Dr Vijay Kumar, Scientist G & Adviser, MoES, Dr Balaji Ramakrishnan (Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology), along with officials from the Government of Puducherry and the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
