Modi government approves 'Prithvi' scheme

In the coming years, comprehensive studies and systems will be developed in the country to accurately predict natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and storms and to explore marine and polar resources.

For this, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved the 'Prithvi' scheme worth Rs 4797 crore. Under this comprehensive plan for Earth Sciences, capabilities for integrated multidisciplinary Earth Science research and new study programs will be developed across various institutions.

In this plan made for five years, work will be done to solve the major challenges of weather and climate, ocean, cryosphere, seismology, while research in marine and polar areas will be done to find out living and non-living resources for their sustainable exploitation. .

The objectives of the Earth Plan include enhancing and maintaining long-term observations of the atmosphere, oceans, geosphere, cryosphere, and solid Earth to record important signals of the Earth system and change.

It also includes development of modeling systems to understand and predict weather. This includes exploration of the Earth's polar and high seas regions for the discovery of new phenomena and resources, exploration of marine resources for social applications and development of technology for sustainable exploitation.

The Cabinet chaired by PM Modi also approved naming the newly constructed airport of Ayodhya as 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham'. The cabinet has also decided to declare this airport as an international airport.

PM Modi had inaugurated this airport on December 30 itself. The government has said that by naming the airport after Maharishi Valmiki, a cultural sentiment has also been added to it. Ayodhya with its deep cultural roots is strategically positioned to become a major economic hub and pilgrimage site.