(a) whether a Research Group of Indian Scientists have surveyed the environmental
standards, Bio-productivity, sea-bed situations, sea mammals and flora and fauna during
their visit to South Pole recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the success achieved in this research work?
MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) So-far, no Indian expedition has been sent to South Pole. However we have been
sending expedition teams to Antarctica. Also, an expedition has been sent in January,
2006 to Southern Oceans in Antarctica to carry out oceanographic survey in Southern
Oceans and bathymetric surveys near the site of the proposed new research base.
(b) & (c) Study of Southern Oceans through oceanographic survey is a long term
programme of the Department, in which studies are conducted in the fields of Physical
oceanography, Atmospheric sciences, Biological sciences and Geological and
Geophysical sciences. So far only two research expeditions have gone to Southern
Oceans, which have an influence on the weather over Indian Ocean and also are rich in
resources, such as fishery.