(a) whether the Government has chalked out any action plan to use various kinds of biological elements found in the Indian oceans in the interest of mankind;
(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to prepare a programme for manufacturing medicines from such biological elements to treat serious diseases;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the names of the institutions which have been roped in for the purpose?
MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) No Madam. However, a systematic long term coordinated exploratory research programme on the development of potential Drugs from the Sea is under implementation to collect samples from the sea for exploring towards identifying pharmaceutical potential of various biological elements under the coordinating responsibility of the CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow. Details of the programme are given in Annexure.
(b) No, Madam
(c-d) Does not arise