India has identified a new location for its upcoming research station, 'Maitri-II,' set to be established in Antarctica and commence operations in 2029. The new facility will be situated a few kilometres away from the currently operational Maitri, India’s second research base located on Schirmacher Oasis in East Antarctica.
Last week, Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Earth Sciences, unveiled India’s plans to construct Maitri-II in the upper house of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. A team of experts, led by M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, recently travelled to Antarctica to assess a new location in close proximity to Maitri.
Thamban Meloth, the director of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), shared insights with the Indian media about the crucial factors considered for the smooth operations of the new station. These factors include the availability of water, crew transportation, and waste management.
While experts from the Survey of India are presently conducting a topographical survey of the site, Meloth mentioned that high-resolution maps providing valuable insights into the new location will soon be released. He affirmed that Maitri-II will adhere to all environmental regulations of the area and will be a state-of-the-art facility.
Maitri-II Research Station Identified in Antarctica, Operations to Begin in 2029
© Photo : Twitter
Maitri, which has been hosting researchers since 1989, was originally designed to last for 10 years. As it is now getting old and has its own limitations, there is a need for Maitri II," Meloth added.
For more than thirty years, India has been sending numerous expeditions to Antarctica to conduct ground-breaking research in marine, biological, geological and atmospheric sciences.