India To Deploy Its First Polar Research Ship In Five Years, Will Help In Sustaining Indian Bases In Antarctica

India is planning to have its first Polar Research Vessel (PRV) within the next five years, according to Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju.

This initiative is aimed at sustaining India's bases in Antarctica.

The proposal regarding the ship is expected to undergo Cabinet approval during the current financial year. During a discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju said that in 2014, the Cabinet had already approved Rs 1,051 crore for the acquisition of the vessel.

Furthermore, a tender was floated for the same purpose. However, the project was later abandoned by the government due to certain conditions raised by the company responsible for building the ship. These conditions were not part of the original tender process. 

Rijiju announced that another effort has been initiated and a proposal is now ready to be moved by the EFC (Expenditure Finance Committee).The estimated cost of the vessel has been revised to Rs 2,600 crore, Rijiju noted.Rijiju expressed optimism that the estimate for the vessel will be proposed and moved in the Cabinet during this financial year. He also stated that the ship should be ready within the next five years. "I am hopeful that in this financial year, we should be ready to propose this estimate and move in the Cabinet. In the next five years, we should be ready with the ship," Rijiju stated, news agency PTI reported.

The government is currently engaged in discussions with countries that possess expertise in manufacturing such ships, Rijiju noted.

Rijiju, however, said that the government would like to manufacture the ship in the country itself.

"I am hopeful that in the next five years, we should be able to build the ship, hopefully in India," he said.

India currently maintains three research base stations in the polar region of Antarctica - Bharati, Maitri, and Dakshin Gangotri.

The minister said the country needs ice breaker ships to have continuous access to the research stations which are required for various reasons, especially to have a better understanding of climate change and other research matters.