Question : Climate Change

(a) whether India and Bangladesh proposes to collaborate research on ocean science to understand important aspect including climate change;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the benefits that are likely to be accrued to the country as a result thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to use Sindhu Sadhna vessel for the purpose and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the time by which the research work is likely to be commissioned and completed; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to have similar collaboration with other SAARC countries?

The MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) Towards this, India had signed an agreement in June 2015 with Bangladesh for collaboration in the field of Blue Economy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. The benefits of this programme are (a) sharing of knowledge and expertise on marine aquaculture, Tsunami warning, marine pollution and deep sea fishing and safeguarding economic interests including fishing feeds in the areas beyond national jurisdiction; (b) green tourism, supporting exchange programmes for human resource and skill development in the field of green tourism and hospitality sectors, including capacity building and (c) including climate change and variability in the Bay of Bengal in the context of huge quantities of fresh water and suspended sediment brought to the shelf, which greatly regulates the monsoon dynamics and also impacting the primary production and fish in the Bay of Bengal.
(c) Yes, Madam.
(d) As a part of this endeavour, a multi-disciplinary oceanography cruise is being planned to be conducted for a period of 45 days in the Bay of Bengal region with the participation of scientists from Bangladesh in the first quarter of 2016-17, subject to requisite of clearances from the Government of Bangladesh.
(e) India has been actively collaborating with SAARC countries at regional level under the South Asian Regional Cooperation on Environment Programme (SACEP). This Programme is being coordinated by SACEP, a United Nations body located in Sri Lanka to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region.