37% dip in Earth Sciences Ministry quota, resources managed well, says panel
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Science and Technology, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh, observed on Monday that there has been a “drastic reduction in the overall budget allocation”, amounting to 770 million rupees. or 37 percent – to the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The committee presented its report on the Demand for Grants (2021-22) for the Ministry of Earth Sciences in both Houses on Monday. According to the report, the Ministry has been able to spend more than 86 percent of its 2020-21 revised estimates (RE), but only 54 percent of its budget estimates (BE).
Core schemes are hit the hardest, cut by Rs 686 crore or 50 percent, according to the report.
Noting that the Ministry has had to face unprecedented challenges due to Covid that required “extraordinary management of available resources”, the committee has described the management of the Ministry’s resources as “commendable”.
The Committee has recommended that the “absolute minimum (of additional funds)” of Rs 350 crore be made available to the Ministry to carry out its projects as planned, such as the offshore mission that the committee described as vital. He recommended that the Ministry develop a plan for generating funds over the next five years, and suggested seminars and online training to save funds and divert them towards research and development.
Recognizing the strategic importance of India’s presence in the Arctic, Antarctic and southern Indian Ocean, the committee also noted that China has invested in both scientific research and manpower in these same regions and the need for India to do the same.
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