Port Blair, Sept. 17: Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment and Forests and Climate Change, Dr Harsh Vardhan dedicated the “Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands” (ACOSTI) to the nation in a ceremony at its premises in Dollygunj, Port Blair today.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister expressed his happiness and thanked the Ministry of Earth Sciences and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) team for dedicating the centre   “Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands” to late Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.  “He was an architect of modern science and technology in India who gave us the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan”. It was during his regime that the Government of India officially declared 11th of May as National Technology Day in India to commemorate the first of the five nuclear tests that were carried out on 11 May 1998 at Pokhran in Rajasthan. His blessings will be there for this institute and the Indian scientists can never forget Atal” he said.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan emphasised on using ocean wealth for the welfare of mankind. “The information and results thus produced from such scientific installations must be transferred from our scientists to farmers, fishermen and youngsters. I am happy to share that about 42 million farmers are being informed about weather forecast by the institutes under Ministry of Earth Sciences. We give tsunami warnings to other coastal countries also”, he said. 

He expressed hope that farmers, youngsters and fishermen will get benefit from the research that will be carried out at ACOSTI. He pressed upon the need to use science for solving the day-to-day problems of common man thus fulfilling the dreams of both Late PM Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of making New India by 2022.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt. Governor, Admiral D. K. Joshi (Retd.) exhorted on the use of indigenous technology for the sustainable utilization of resources to protect Mother Earth. “ACOSTI will open new vistas in Marine research”, he said.

Member of Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray also expressed his views on the occasion. Dr. M. Rajeevan, Secretary, Shri Chetan B. Sanghi, Chief Secretary A&N Administration, Dr. Vipin Chandra, Joint Secretary (Admin) Ministry of Earth Sciences and Dr. M.A. Atmanand, Director NIOT also participated in the inauguration ceremony. 

ACOSTI is a field centre of the NIOT, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India.