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Context

The Ministry of Finance has granted approval for Maitri II, new research station in East Antarctica, expected to be operational by January 2029.

What is Maitri II?

Purpose and Need

The original Maitri station, operational since 1989, has surpassed its design life of 10 years and faces challenges like flawed waste management. 

Maitri II will serve as India's primary, year-round research hub, while the older Maitri station will be retained as a summer camp.

Nodal Agency

The project is being led by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), a Goa-based institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Key Features

• "Green Research Base": Maitri II is planned as a sustainable facility, powered by renewable energy—solar power during the Antarctic summer and wind energy to harness the continent's strong winds.
• Advanced and Automated Technology: Deployment of automated instruments capable of recording and relaying scientific data to mainland India in real-time, even when the station is unmanned.
• Improved Infrastructure: Maitri II will be larger than its predecessor and will feature upgraded living conditions, including improved waste management systems.

Why is Antarctica So Important?

A Natural Laboratory for Climate Science

• Freshwater Reserves: The continent holds nearly 75% of the Earth’s freshwater locked in its vast ice sheets. Studying the melting of these ice sheets is crucial for accurately forecasting global sea-level rise.
• Climate Records: The ice cores drilled from Antarctica contain trapped air bubbles that provide a record of the Earth’s climate and atmosphere dating back hundreds of thousands of years.

Geopolitical and Strategic Significance

• Under the Antarctic Treaty (1959), the continent is dedicated to peaceful purposes and scientific cooperation, with all territorial claims suspended. 
• Having a strong scientific presence provides India a voice in the governance of this resource-rich continent.
• The region is also of strategic interest due to its untapped mineral deposits and marine biodiversity.

Provide Unique Scientific Research:

• Antarctica's extreme cold, dry, and windy conditions, combined with its unique wildlife and pristine environment, make it an ideal location for research in a wide range of fields, including glaciology, atmospheric sciences, geology, and biology.

India's Antarctic Journey

Dakshin Gangotri (1983): India's first scientific base in Antarctica, but was decommissioned in 1990 after being submerged in ice.

Maitri (1989): The second permanent research station and currently the oldest one in operation. Located in the Schirmacher Oasis,.

Bharati (2012): India's third and most modern research station.  

India's Commitment to Polar Governance

Legal Framework: The Indian Antarctic Act, 2022, provides a domestic legal framework for activities on the continent, ensuring they are aligned with its obligations under the Antarctic Treaty.

Global Commitment: India's status as a Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 binds it to the principles of using the continent for peaceful purposes, promoting scientific freedom, and protecting its unique environment.

Conclusion

India will construct Maitri-II to replace the old Maitri station, enhancing polar research, climate studies, and global environmental monitoring, while reinforcing its Antarctic Treaty commitment.

Source: INDIAN EXPRESS