In a historic ceremony held at the Marmugao Harbour of Goa today, Dr.Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Personnel and Training, Science and Technology (Independent Charge), Atomic Energy, Space and Earth Sciences, dedicated to the nation the first ever indigenously built Research Vessel (Ship) " Sindhu Sadhana " acquired recently by the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography. Sindhu Sadhana is a multi-disciplinary research vessel equipped with a number of laboratories for data collection, echo sounders, acoustic doppler, profiler, autonomous weather station, air quality monitors and a host of other world-class latest equipments in the field of ocean technology and ocean research. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said that after the successful launch of PSLV-23 satellite in space from Sriharikota on June 30, today`s launch of Sindhu Sadhana into the ocean is the second major initiative in the field of science and technology within seven weeks of taking over of the Narendra Modi Government. This only indicates the high priority attached by the present Government to the development of science and technology in the country,he observed and added that just as PSLV-23 enabled India to become part a of world`s exclusive space satellite club, Sindhu Sadhana has brought India to the world map of ocean technology.
Dwelling on the salient features of the new research ship, Sindhu Sadhana, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, it will greatly enhance the capabilities of Indian oceanographers to make multi-disciplinary observations with a capability to predict the future changes in oceanographic processes, thus generating enormous inputs, which will benefit not only India but also the number of other nations and seas around India. As India marches ahead to become a world power in the next one decade,Dr Jitendra Singh said, initiatives like Sindhu Sadhana will also help an economic breakthrough in the area of shipping, fishing, exploration for oil and natural gas, submarine pipeline etc. Accompanied by the Captain of the ship and crew members, Dr.P.S.Ahuja, DG CSIR, Dr. S.W.A. Naqvi, Director CSIR-NIO, scientists and sailors, Dr.Jitendra Singh went around each and every room, cabins and chambers of the ship and personally met each of the staffers on duck.