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India's third permanent station is proposed to be set up in icy Antarctica to provide further momentum to its ongoing extensive research in polar science.
A site at Larsmann Hill has been selected for the purpose by the Department of Ocean Development.
The site is identified at latitude 69 degree south and longtitude 76 degree east after preliminary surveys during the Antarctic summer of 2003-04 and 2004-05.
"Detailed surveys on environmental parameters as mandated under the Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty and also from logistics and scientific considerations are proposed to be carried out during the Antarctic summer of 2005-06," sources at the Ocean Development Department told UNI in New Delhi Monday.
Based on these survey, the proposal for getting clearance under the Environmental Protocol will be submitted to the consultative body of the Antarctic Treaty.
"At this stage, it is not possible to give a time frame for setting up of the third station," the sources said.
India already has two stations -- Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri.
Despite Antarctica being inhospitable due to extreme cold, massive permanent ice sheets and floating ice shelves, it has always been an exhilarating environment for scientists, academicians and scholars who visit Antarctica every year for the furtherance of polar research in the contemporary areas of global relevance.
India started its Antarctic Programme way back in 1981 when the first Indian Expedition was flagged off for Antarctica from Goa.
Subsequently, annual Antarctic expeditions are being sent through Department of Ocean Development and National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research.
So far, 21 such expeditions have been launched, including one to the Weddell Sea and one being the Krill expedition to the southern ocean.
Dr S Z Quasim was the leader of the first Indian Expedition, which was launched in December 1981.
India's first permanent station Dakshin Gangotri was built in 1983. Its second indigenous station Maitri was built during 1988-89.
Maitri is situated on the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis. It has all the modern facilities to carry out research in various disciplines such as Biology, Earth Sciences, Glaciology, Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Cold Region Engineering, Communication, Human Physiology and Medicine.
It has a capacity to accommodate 25 people during winter. The fresh water supply is provided through fresh water lakes around Maitri.
By virtue of India's sustained interest and demonstrative capabilities in the domain of polar science, India has achieved several milestones.
India was admitted to the Antarctic Treaty on August 19, 1983, and soon thereafter obtained consultative status on September 12, 1983.
It became a member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research on October 1, 1984, and a member of Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in 1986.
India ratified the Environment Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty in 1997, thus upholding its commitment to preserve the pristine continent.
International bilateral co-operation in various domains of polar science were pursued with various treaty nations.