Question : PERMISSION TO JAPANESE VESSELS

(a) Whether the Government are aware that officials of his Ministry granted permission to the Japanese Vessels to carry out research surveys in the Indian Exclusive Econimic Zone without consulting the Ministry of Defence.

(b) if so, the reasons therefor:

(c) the level at which the permission was granted ;

(d) ~whether in the recent past Government imposed restrictions on granting permissions to foregin vessels to carry out research in Indian EEZ ; and

(e) if so. the circumstances which prompted the officals to grant the said permission?

THE M1NISTER OF STATE FOR EXTEREAL AFFAIRSSHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA


a) - (e)In response to a request received from the Japanese Government, permission was given to the Japanese research cruise vessel R V Mirai to be deputed to the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean area from 16th October 2000-21st December 2000. The purpose of the research cruise was to achieve better understanding of air-sea interaction over the region concerned and related climate change. The research cruise was carried out by the Japan Marine Science & Technology Centre under the supervision of the Science & Technology Agency of Japan.

Permission to foregin vessels for carrying out research in the Indian EEZ is given in accordance with GOI`s instructions on the subject.