O-SMART

About:

• O-SMART is an acronym for “Ocean services, technology, observations, resources modelling and Science”.
  
  
• Implementing ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  
  
• Implementation Period of scheme: 2017-18 to 2019-20 at an overall cost of Rs.1623 crore.
  
  
• Areas covered: 16 sub-projects addressing ocean development activities such as Services, Technology, Resources, Observations and Science.
  
  
• Target activities during the next 2 years:
  • Strengthening of Ocean Observations and Modelling,
    
    
  • Strengthening of Ocean Services for Fishermen,
    
    
  • Setting up Marine Coastal Observatories for monitoring marine pollution in 2018,
    
    
  • Setting up Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant (OTEC) in Kavaratti,
    
    
  • Acquisition of 2 Coastal Research Vessels for Coastal research,
    
    
  • Continuation of Ocean Survey and Exploration of Minerals and Living Resources,
    
    
  • Technology Development for Deep Ocean Mining and
    
    
  • Setting up Six Desalination Plants in Lakshadweep.
    
    
  
  
  
• Significance/Impact of technologies developed under O-smart:
  • Providing economic benefits to communities involved in the coastal and ocean sectors, namely, fisheries, offshore industry, coastal states, Defence, Shipping, Ports etc.
    
    
  • Addressing issues relating to Sustainable Development Goal-14, which aims to conserve use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.
    
    
  • Implementation of various aspects of Blue Economy (for efficient use of the vast ocean resources in a sustainable way).
    
    
  • Dealing with ocean disasters like Tsunami, storm surges (with the help of Early Warning Systems established under the O-SMART Scheme).
    
    
  • Harnessing the vast ocean resources of both living and non-living resources from the seas around India.