India inks deep sea exploration contract with International Seabed Authority
New Delhi (PTI): India has signed a 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean, Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday.
Singh said, according to the contract, the ISA has granted exclusive rights to India to explore polymetallic sulphides (PMS) in the allotted 10,000 sq km area of the Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean.
PMS contain valuable metals such as iron, copper, zinc, silver, gold, and platinum, and are precipitates formed by hot hydrothermal fluids from oceanic crust.
Their strategic and commercial potential has attracted global attention, placing India at the forefront of deep-sea resource exploration, Singh said.
The minister said India has become the first country in the world to hold two contracts with ISA for PMS exploration, assuming a pioneering role in deep-sea resource exploration that affirms its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean.
The new contract is a significant step towards realising the vision of the Deep Ocean Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which focuses on seabed mineral exploration, mining technology development, and strengthening India's Blue Economy Initiatives, Singh said.
"By formalising exclusive rights for PMS exploration in the Carlsberg Ridge, India has further consolidated its leadership in deep-sea research and exploration. This will enhance our maritime presence and build national capacity for future resource utilisation," he said.
With two PMS contracts now in place, the other in the Central Indian Ridge & Southwest Indian Ridge, India now holds the largest exploration area allocated for PMS in the international seabed, Singh said.
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High-level inquiry committee set up to probe fire in Rajdhani Express: Railway Board
New Delhi (PTI): The West Central Railway Zone has constituted a high administrative grade-level inquiry committee to investigate the fire on the Thiruvananthapuram Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express on Sunday.
The fire erupted at 5.15 am in the B-1 passenger coach of the train between Vikramgarh Alot and Lunirichha stations under the Kota Railway division, one-and-a-half hours after it left the Ratlam Junction in Madhya Pradesh, according to an official. The fire also damaged the luggage brake and generator car behind the coach.
"The committee has been nominated by the general manager of West Central Railway (WCR). It comprises senior officers from the West Central Railway, Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, and RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation)," the Railway Board said in a press note.
"Principal chief safety officer, WCR, has been appointed as the convener of the committee," it said, also mentioning other committee members such as principal chief electrical engineer, principal chief mechanical engineer, principal chief security officer from the WCR zone, and principal chief mechanical engineer from the Integrated Coach Factory, among others.
As per the provisions of the Accident Manual, the committee has been directed to complete the inquiry within the stipulated timeframe.
The Board stated that the committee will conduct a detailed examination of the causes of the incident, technical aspects and safety parameters so as to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.
"Indian Railways remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of passengers and is taking all necessary measures in this regard," it added.
