Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Thursday signed an MoU with the Union ministry of earth sciences to roll out a marine spatial plan (MSP), a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at boosting the state’s blue economy while ensuring sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.The agreement was signed between the state science and technology department and the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) under the ministry of earth sciences at Lok Seva Bhavan in the presence of chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi.Calling MSP a “game changer” for coastal governance, Majhi said the initiative would promote economic activities linked to fisheries, tourism, ports and ocean energy while safeguarding marine biodiversity. “MSP will not only strengthen the blue economy but also set a new benchmark in integrated coastal and marine planning,” he said.The MoU was signed by additional secretary of science and technology Pooja Mishra and NCCR director R S Kankara.Officials said the MSP is part of sustainable ocean planning, a collaborative initiative between India and Norway that began in 2019. While the first phase was implemented in Puducherry and Lakshadweep, Odisha has become the first state to roll out the programme in its second phase.Majhi said Odisha’s 480-km-long coastline and rich marine biodiversity play a critical role in livelihoods and economic growth, but increasing development pressures and competing sectoral demands have made scientific planning imperative. “MSP is a timely intervention to balance development with ecological protection,” he said.The chief minister also referred to the launch of the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (OMBRIC) last August, saying it would complement MSP by promoting marine biotechnology for environmental protection and economic development.Linking the initiative to long-term goals, Majhi said strong coastal economic development, coupled with environmental safeguards, was crucial to achieving the state’s vision of a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047. He thanked the govt of Norway for its technical support and acknowledged the Centre’s role in facilitating Odisha’s inclusion in the programme.Science and technology minister Krushna Chandra Patra said NCCR was a premier institution in marine research and had developed key economic models for marine conservation and resource utilisation. “The department will extend full support for the successful implementation of MSP,” he said.Chief secretary Anu Garg described MSP as a significant step towards optimal utilisation of marine resources while addressing climate and environment challenges.Earth sciences secretary M Ravichandran said sustainable growth in line with India’s Vision 2047 would require climate-resilient planning across sectors, with MSP playing a key role in shaping a sustainable blue economy.Deputy ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy Arvinn Gadgil said Norway would support Odisha through technology-driven resource management, citing the state’s long coastline and maritime trade heritage. Senior officials from the state govt, the earth sciences ministry and representatives of the Norwegian govt attended the event.
