The Government of Goa has launched a major initiative to restore and reimagine the state’s precious water bodies through “Mission Sarovar Punha Nirman.” The Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, inaugurated a dedicated brainstorming session for this mission at the Panaji Gymkhana, Campal. Organized by the Department of Environment & Climate Change, the event marks a pivotal step toward sustainable water management in the region.
Bringing together leading experts, the session featured insights from Dr. Sharad P. Kale, Ex-Scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), renowned for his contributions to environmental science and waste management. The session also saw participation from Shri Arun Kumar Mishra, IAS, Secretary (Environment); Dr. Levinson Martins, IAS, Chairman of the Goa State Pollution Control Board; Dr. Geeta Nagvenkar, Member Secretary, GSPCB; Shri Dyaneshwar Salekar, Chief Engineer at the Water Resources Department; and Shri Sachin Desai, Director of the Department of Environment & Climate Change.
The brainstorming session focused on practical frameworks and scientific approaches to rejuvenate lakes across the state, with the aim to promote ecological balance, sustainable development, and climate resilience. The presence of top environmental officials and scientists signals the government’s strong commitment to preserving Goa’s natural water heritage. The initiative also reflects broader climate adaptation goals and aligns with both local and national sustainability objectives.
“Mission Sarovar Punha Nirman” is expected to not only breathe new life into Goa’s neglected lakes but also act as a model for community-led, science-backed restoration efforts across India. The Government of Goa continues to take proactive steps in ensuring a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for generations to come.
The Goa Sand Art Festival (GSAF) is set to return to Miramar Beach this November, after receiving the green light from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). Scheduled from November 14 to 30, the two-week event will be a free-to-view cultural festival that blends creativity, education, and environmental awareness in one of Goa’s most iconic coastal locations.
The festival, organised by Sand Cult, will occupy approximately 15,000 square feet of beach space, where visitors can experience live sand sculpting displays, interactive workshops for students and local artists, and school engagement programs aimed at promoting Goa’s sustainable development goals.
The event proposal, first submitted in July, offered two formats—a short-term free festival and a six-month paid exhibition. After careful review, the GCZMA opted for the short-term model, citing its limited ecological footprint and easier logistical management. The decision was based on compliance with the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011, as well as detailed considerations of waste management, temporary structures, and crowd control.
Importantly, the GCZMA has stated that no permanent structures will be allowed at the venue, though temporary tents may be set up for the duration. Strict adherence to environmental safeguards and continuous maintenance of beach cleanliness have been mandated throughout the event.
The festival is poised to offer a cultural boost to Goa’s tourism season while also creating employment opportunities for locals and encouraging community involvement in sustainable coastal development. With its unique blend of artistic expression and environmental responsibility, the Goa Sand Art Festival promises to be a standout event on the state’s cultural calendar.
Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral
The Partner Technology Event hosted by the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) in Panaji received strong support on Friday with the presence of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. The event served as a platform for showcasing emerging advancements in clean energy, such as solar energy, biofuels, battery regeneration, and cutting-edge wastewater management solutions.
Dr Sawant emphasized Goa’s commitment to sustainable energy goals and pointed to initiatives like the BiofuelCircle portal, rooftop solar programs, and the PM Surya Ghar Yojana as examples of progress. “Goa is moving ahead with initiatives like the ‘BiofuelCircle’ portal, rooftop solar, PM Surya Ghar Yojana, and other initiatives,” said Dr Sawant during his address.
The event was not just about clean energy but also about how industries across the board can adapt to technological advancements. From raw material sourcing to ownership patterns (private, public, joint, or cooperative), industries are being urged to align with evolving technologies and sustainability goals to remain competitive and future-ready.
One of the significant topics discussed was the critical role of waste management and how advanced technology can help tackle issues such as toxic plastic waste. “Waste management can be helped with the advanced technology and how it can be useful in depletion of ‘Toxic plastic’ and a ‘Clean environment’ to save the water bodies and biodiversity,” Dr Sawant said.
This initiative ties into India’s broader climate and sustainability roadmap, including its target to achieve major clean energy milestones by 2030. The GEDA event is a strong step in reinforcing Goa’s alignment with that national mission, showcasing how localized efforts can contribute to a greener, cleaner India.
India took a bold stride towards becoming a global hub for green mobility as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two landmark initiatives at the Suzuki Motor Plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat. The event marked a transformative moment in India’s green energy journey, reinforcing the government’s push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
At the center of this historic day was the launch of Suzuki’s first global strategic Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)—the e-VITARA—which will now be manufactured in India and exported to over 100 countries, including advanced markets like Europe and Japan. This development officially positions India as Suzuki’s global production hub for electric vehicles.
In a parallel breakthrough, PM Modi also launched domestic production of hybrid battery electrodes at the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery plant, a joint venture between Toshiba, Denso, and Suzuki. This step signifies a crucial shift in India’s EV supply chain dynamics, ensuring that over 80% of the battery value is now manufactured within the country.
PM Modi highlighted that what began over a decade ago, when land was first allotted to Maruti Suzuki in Gujarat, has now matured into a global export powerhouse. He emphasized that the new EV initiatives reflect both India’s engineering capacity and its growing importance in global value chains. He praised the late Osamu Suzuki’s vision and the expansion of India-Japan cooperation in manufacturing and innovation.
Acknowledging the broader significance of the developments, the Prime Minister noted that India is now exporting cars—and electric vehicles—back to Japan, a testament to India’s rising capabilities and global trust in its manufacturing standards. He stressed that companies like Suzuki are not just foreign investors, but brand ambassadors of India’s industrial transformation.
Further emphasizing clean mobility, PM Modi announced plans for hybrid ambulances, developed within just six months by Maruti Suzuki, as part of the ₹11,000 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme. These vehicles are set to modernize emergency services while aligning with India’s clean energy goals.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed India’s dedication to building a strong domestic EV ecosystem. Until recently, India imported nearly all its EV batteries, but now, with the local production of hybrid battery components, the nation is moving quickly toward self-reliance. PM Modi noted that initiatives like the National Critical Mineral Mission, which will launch over 1,200 exploration campaigns, aim to secure rare earth minerals essential for EVs and semiconductors.
PM Modi credited sustained reforms over the past decade for the dramatic growth in manufacturing—electronics production has grown by 500%, mobile phone output by 2,700%, and defence production by over 200%. He emphasized that the focus on plug-and-play infrastructure, logistics parks, and PLI schemes have transformed India into a competitive industrial destination.
Highlighting the depth of India-Japan ties, PM Modi shared how Japan played a key role in the early editions of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, and how personal efforts were made to ensure comfort and cultural integration for Japanese investors—from golf courses to cuisine. He announced that he would be visiting Japan next week, further reinforcing the strength of the bilateral relationship.
The Prime Minister concluded by calling on Indian states to compete in attracting global investors through reform-driven, pro-development policies. He expressed confidence that the initiatives launched today will lay the foundation for a developed India by 2047, with Japan continuing to be one of the country’s most trusted partners on that journey.
Also present at the ceremony were Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Japan’s Ambassador to India H.E. Mr. Ono Keiichi, and senior executives from Suzuki Motor Corporation.
The deep sea, still full of mysteries, holds not just the secrets of human origins but also clues to our long-term sustenance and preservation. To unlock its hidden potential, India’s Deep Ocean Mission was launched on 7th September 2021 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with the aim to develop technologies for exploring and sustainably utilising the deep ocean’s living and non-living wealth. With an overall investment of ₹4,077 crore spread across five years, this mission is not a one-time dive – it will unfold in phases and is designed as a full-throttle national project, driving forward India’s Blue Economy, which includes all marine-based industries – from fishing and shipping to biotechnology and tourism.
Exploring these depths could provide solutions to global challenges like climate change. Recognising this, the United Nations designated the 2021–2030 decade as the ‘Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’. India’s unique geography, with 7,517 km of coastline, nine coastal states, and 1,382 islands, gives it a strategic advantage. In the Government of India’s Vision for New India 2030, the Blue Economy has been placed among the ten core growth dimensions. The Ministry of Earth Sciences is leading this multi-agency effort to tap into ocean resources and build a ₹100 billion maritime economy, transforming deep-sea potential into sustainable prosperity.
One of the mission’s key elements is the development of technologies for deep-sea mining and a manned submersible. India is building a self-propelled vehicle named MATSYA 6000, which can transport three individuals to depths of 6,000 meters. This advanced submersible will support India’s future ambitions in commercial mineral exploration. Alongside it, an integrated mining system is being developed to extract polymetallic nodules from the deep sea in the Central Indian Ocean. Another component is the development of ocean climate change advisory services. This includes creating models to understand and predict key climate variables, contributing to climate adaptation and promoting coastal tourism.
The mission also focuses on technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity. This includes bio-prospecting deep-sea flora, fauna, and microbes, with a view to promoting sustainable use of biological resources and boosting marine fisheries and allied services. Through the Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration component, India aims to identify multi-metal hydrothermal sulphide sites along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges. In terms of energy and freshwater, the mission proposes a proof-of-concept Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plant, contributing to offshore renewable energy development.
To support marine biology and innovation, the Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology will be established. This centre will focus on translating research into industrial products, fostering ocean-related entrepreneurship and manufacturing, and building talent through on-site incubators.
The Samudrayaan Project was launched under this mission to deliver on the deep-sea exploration goals. MATSYA 6000, the manned submersible, is designed for a 12-hour operational period and 96-hour emergency capability. It features high-density lithium-polymer batteries, underwater acoustic communication, drop-weight escape systems, and safety vests for life support and health monitoring. The vessel is a spherical titanium-alloy structure with a diameter of 2260 mm and wall thickness of 80 mm, capable of withstanding 600 bar pressure and sub-zero temperatures. The titanium sphere was welded using Electron Beam Welding (EBW), a highly specialised process developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre after over 700 trials. The welding was tested with advanced non-destructive techniques such as Time-of-Flight Diffraction (TOFD) and Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT).
MATSYA 6000 is being developed collaboratively by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. The vehicle has already undergone rigorous dry integration testing up to 500 meters to validate system functionality. Between January and February 2025, wet trials were held at L&T Shipyard in Chennai to assess flotation, control, safety, navigation, and communication systems. Scientific payloads such as oceanographic sensors were also tested.
The demonstration phase included eight dives—five unmanned and five manned. These trials rigorously tested life support systems and the submersible’s performance under real conditions. On August 5 and 6, 2025, India achieved a major milestone with its first ever 5000-meter deep-sea dive. This was conducted in collaboration with IFREMER, the French marine research institute, using their submersible Nautile. Indian aquanauts Senior Scientist Raju Ramesh and Commander Jatinder Pal Singh (Retd) completed successful seven-hour dives, collecting vital data and hands-on operational experience.
The Indian team gained insights into pre-dive procedures, buoyancy control, manipulator operations, flag placement, sample collection, deployment and retrieval, trajectory tracking, and acoustic communication. The Indo-French collaboration is instrumental in advancing the MATSYA 6000 programme, which has already realised and tested the titanium hull, syntactic foam, variable ballast system, and emergency drop-weight mechanisms. Open ocean testing, shallow water demonstrations, and full system integration are scheduled through 2026 and 2027, with deep-water tests and scientific dives set for 2027–28.
India has also made progress in autonomous underwater vehicle development. In December 2022, the Ocean Mineral Explorer (OMe 6000), an autonomous vehicle, explored depths of 5,271 meters in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. Deployed using the research vessel Sagar Nidhi, it surveyed polymetallic manganese nodule-rich zones, helping to map seabed biodiversity and mineral distribution.
India’s Deep Ocean Mission, through these achievements, is expanding indigenous capability in ocean science and engineering. By entering the elite club of deep-sea exploration nations, India is setting the stage for long-term strategic, scientific, and environmental leadership in marine research and resource development.
