Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards balancing coastal development with marine conservation, the Odisha government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) in the state.
The agreement was signed between Additional Secretary of the Science & Technology Department Pooja Mishra and Director of the National Centre for Coastal Research, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr R S Kankara in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi
The CM described the MSP as a forward-looking initiative that will boost Odisha’s blue economy while protecting marine ecology and biodiversity. “It will promote local coastal economies while safeguarding marine biodiversity and set a new benchmark for integrated coastal and marine planning,” he said.
Notably, Odisha is the first state to implement the second phase of India’s Sustainable Ocean Planning initiative, a collaborative programme between the Governments of India and Norway that began in 2019. The first phase covered Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
Majhi further highlighted that the state’s coastal and marine areas are rich in biodiversity and natural resources that support livelihoods and economic growth. “However, due to increasing developmental activities, environmental impacts, and rising sectoral demands, there is a need for scientific management of marine ecosystem. MSP is a timely step in this direction. It will help meet the needs of fisheries, tourism, ports, ocean energy, and other sectors while ensuring the protection of marine ecosystems,” he noted.
He further mentioned the launch of Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (OMBRIC) in August last year to promote the use of biotechnology for marine environmental protection and economic development. “This will further strengthen the MSP initiative,” he said.
He stressed that the plan aligns with the state’s vision of a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047, emphasizing the need for strong coastal economic growth alongside environmental safeguards. The Chief Minister thanked the Government of Norway for its support and acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continuous assistance in advancing the state’s development.
Science & Technology Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr M Ravichandran and Deputy Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy Arvin Gadgil also spoke on the occasion.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Science & Technology Department Chitra Arumugam made a brief presentation on the MSP programme.
