Polymetallic Nodules in Indian Ocean Basin:
Polymetallic nodules (also known as manganese nodules) are potato‐shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea. Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium, of which nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.
India has signed a contract for exploration of Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) in Central Indian Ocean Basin with the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Initial estimated resource of polymetallic nodules on the site retained by India on the central Indian Ocean basin is 380 million tonnes. Commercial significance:
• It will give boost to associated industries like electronics, shipping, heavy machinery etc.
• Reduction in costs of minerals.
• New employment opportunities.
• Coastal development.
• Promote new opportunities for R&D in this field.
Strategic Significance:
• China controls about 95% of rare earth production. Rare earth extraction from Poly‐metallic nodules will help in addressing this monopoly.
• Enhanced presence in Indian Ocean.
• Development of Blue economy.
• Development of exploration and related technologies which may be commercially exploited in future.
Challenges:
• The alloted area for exploration lies around 2000 km away from the southern tip of India.
• Technical challenges like developing specialised drills and extraction‐technology required to fish out metals.
• Will disturb the sea floor ecosystem and release of GHGs.
• Maintaining transparency in allocation of contracts, discovery of minerals and accruing profits.
• High Cost of operations.
Thus, it is important that these resources are exploited wisely in a transparent manner with a greater aim of environmental sustainability, inclusive economic development and strategic gain in the region.
Resource management.
• With increasing population pressure, climate change, development that is based on intensive use of resources, there is threat of resource scarcity in the world.
• Resource management which aims at optimum utilization of resources keeping in mind needs of present and future generation assumes significance. • Resources:
• Natural: Land, water, air, forests, wildlife, mineral resources.
• Human resource.
• Financial resource.
Strategies employed in resource management.
Technology:
• To Map available resources.
• Enhancing productivity of agricultural land. (Ex: Green revolution‐ High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds
and chemical fertilizers.)
• Judicious utilization of resources.
• Ex: drip and sprinkler irrigation methods, precision farming.
• Diversify energy resources. Ex: solar energy, waste to energy.
• Food processing technology to minimize loss of agricultural produce.
Decentralized approach:
• Today when construction of multipurpose dams is scientifically discredited, decentralized water conservation strategies are gaining currency.
• Focus on the development of MSME’s, which are well distributed throughout the country‐decentralised approach to development.
• Social forestry through involvement of common people.
Regional planning:
• Establishment of industries where raw materials are available. Ex: steel plants in Jharkhand. This would help to better channelize limited economic resources.
• Agro‐ climatic classification to ensure optimum return from agriculture. Ex: emphasis to grow fodder
crops in arid regions.
Conservation:
• Conservation of ecosystems and wildlife through protected areas. Ex: Wildlife Protection Act,
Biological Diversity Act.
• International efforts to protect environment. Ex: Various conventions of UN on climate change (UNFCC), biodiversity (UNCBD), MAB program and others.
• Conservation of soil through afforestation, organic farming.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:
• Switching to need based lifestyle to avoid excess consumption of finite resources.
• Recycling and re‐usage would also help.
Human resource:
• Regulating population growth. Ex: family planning programmes.
• Development of human capital by broadening access & opportunities in education, health & skills.
Thus, overall thrust of strategies is to conserve available resources; their efficient usage; finding alternatives and involving communities in their management so as to ensure sustainable development.
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