Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has launched a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) to promote coastal economic growth while sustaining marine environmental protection.

For this purpose, an MoU was signed between the Science & Technology Department of the state government and the National Centre for Coastal Research under Ministry of Earth Sciences at Lok Seva Bhawan in the capital city here today. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was present on the occasion.

The MoU was signed by Pooja Mishra, Additional Secretary of the Science & Technology Department, and Dr. R.S. Kankara, Director of the National Centre for Coastal Research.

MSP will also protect marine ecology

Speaking on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the MSP will not only boost the blue economy but also ensure protection of the marine ecology. It will promote local coastal economies while safeguarding marine biodiversity. “The MSP will set a new benchmark for integrated coastal and marine planning,” he added.

It may be noted that Sustainable Ocean Planning has been underway in India since 2019 with cooperation between the Central government and Norway. In the first phase, it was implemented in Puducherry and Lakshadweep. In the second phase, the programme was launched in Odisha.

According to the Chief Minister, Odisha’s coastal and marine regions are rich in biodiversity and provide abundant natural resources. These resources play a vital role in livelihoods, economic growth, and environmental balance. However, due to increasing developmental activities, environmental impacts, and rising sectoral demands, there is a need for scientific management of marine ecosystem.

The initiative likely to promote tourism

“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,” said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that in August last year, the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (OMBRIC) was launched to promote the use of biotechnology for marine environmental protection and economic development. This will further strengthen the MSP initiative.

He emphasized that achieving the goals of a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047 requires strong coastal economic development alongside environmental protection. He thanked the Government of Norway for its support.

Science & Technology Minister Krushna Chandra Patra stated that the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) is a leading institution in marine research and has developed important economic models for marine conservation and resource utilization. The department will extend full support for the success of MSP.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg said that MSP is a significant initiative for achieving the 2036 and 2047 goals, aiming for maximum utilization of marine resources along with environmental protection.

Norway to assist Odisha

Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, stated that for India’s Vision 2047, growth must be achieved across all sectors while addressing climate challenge issues. MSP will help ensure a sustainable blue economy.

Arvin Gadgil, Deputy Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, said Odisha has a rich maritime trade heritage and a long coastline. Norway will provide full support to this initiative, focusing on technology-driven resource management for achieving long-term development goals.

Chitra Arumugam, Additional Chief Secretary of the Science & Technology Department, delivered the welcome address and made a brief presentation on the MSP programme.

The event was attended by senior officials from the state government, Ministry of Earth Sciences, representatives from the Government of Norway, and other senior officials.