Foundation Stone Laid for an "International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography" at INCOIS, Hyderabad
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has also signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IOC/UNESCO on July 4, 2013 to cooperate in capacity development programmes. He also remarked that this indicates the confidence of the international community in the achievements of India, especially in the field of operational oceanography. Toward this, Government of India has already allocated Rs.100 crores over a period of 5 years. He mentioned that the ITCO ocean building complex will comprise of the Academic block with an area of 80,000 Sq ft and an International Hostel with an area of 40,000 Sq ft., to be built at a cost of about 50 Cr.
The new building complex is expected to be ready in about 18 months and will impart training programmes on operational oceanography to participants coming from all over the world and will also contribute to improving the local economy and employment opportunities. He also mentioned that the facility should be developed as an “area of interest” for students/visitors from all over the country so that public interest is generated in this important area.
Speaking on the
occasion, the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences
Shri. Y. S. Chowdary informed that the International Training Centre for
Operational Oceanography is being set up by Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt.
of India as a commitment of Govt. of India in helping the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission (IOC)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in their capacity building efforts in areas of
Operational Oceanography.
Currently
operating from the interim facility at ESSO- INCOIS, ITCO ocean has so far
conducted six international and seven national training programmes by training
more than 360 researchers, university students, state and central government
officials from 22 countries - Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Comoros, Ghana,
Iran, Italy, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Nigeria, Oman, Romania, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo,Yemen. A state-of-the-art 48 seater E-class room has been made operational in
early 2014, with the facility to link different centres, organizations, and
participants from across the globe.
Комментарии