Overview
- An MoU announced Thursday at Bhubaneswar’s Lok Seva Bhawan launched the plan between Odisha’s Science and Technology Department and the National Centre for Coastal Research in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
- The agreement, signed by Pooja Mishra and Dr. R. S. Kankara, sets up science-based marine spatial planning to balance fisheries, ports, tourism, aquaculture and ocean energy with protection of sensitive ecosystems.
- Odisha becomes the first state to carry forward phase two of India’s Sustainable Ocean Planning, which followed initial work in Puducherry and Lakshadweep under the 2019 India–Norway collaboration.
- Norway pledged technical help that includes ocean mapping and technology-driven resource management, while NCCR will supply data and economic models to guide decisions.
- Officials said the effort now moves into mapping and cross-sector coordination along the state’s 574-km coast, supported by the OMBRIC program that links research to conservation and local livelihoods.