BY: Y.Bala Murali Krishna

In a significant development, India is hosting the crucial Antarctic Treaty Consultative (ATC) Meeting for the first time in New Delhi even as the apex body is to clear the site for the proposed third Indian Research Base Station at Larsemann's Bay, 600 nautical miles east of the existing Maitri station in the icy continent.

''We are hosting the 15-day ATC meeting for the first time in New Delhi during March-April next in which about 300 delegates connected with the Antarctic research would participate,'' Dr P S Goel, secretary, Union Ministry of Earth Sciences told UNI.

Meanwhile, Indian polar scientists are busy preparing a ''Comprehensive Environment Evaluation Report (CEER)'' for submission to the ''Committee on Environment Protection(CEP)'' which is to clear the report before its ratification by the ATC for setting up the third research station at Larsemann's Bay.

The report had to be circulated to all the member countries of the ATC for their comments/guidelines, if any, for modification/changes in the site plan as the site involved many aspects of preservation of ecology and environment at the Larsemann's Bay.

''Though some countries like Australia and New Zealand which dominate the area are initially opposing the idea because of 'territorial claims', there would not be any problem for India to get the site clearance for the new research base station,'' says Dr Rasik Ravindra, director, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Vasco-da-Gama, Goa.

''If everything goes well and clearance obtained, it would take at least two years for setting up the research base station at Larsemann's Bay. We have already floated quotations for the design of the state-of-the-art station,'' he added.

The prestigious NCAOR is the nodal agency for undertaking and coordinating the multi-disciplinary Indian Antarctic expeditions, besides setting up of the third research station.

''They do not oppose the proposal but seek details regarding waste disposal at the proposed site probably to drag on the issue. But we are ready with all our explanations to maintain the ecology at the proposed site at the Larsemann's Bay,'' says NCAOR's logistics director Dr T V P Bhaskara Rao.

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