Maitri II Station

Maitri II Station Latest News

Recently, the Finance Ministry has granted approval for Maitri II — the country’s newest research station proposed to come up in eastern Antarctica.

About Maitri II Station

• It is India’s newest research station proposed to come up in eastern Antarctica.
• It will be larger than Maitri I, with plans to design it as a green research base.
• The proposal includes using renewable energy sources — solar power for summer expeditions and wind energy to harness the strong Antarctic winds — to run the station’s operations. 
• It is planned to deploy automated instruments onboard Maitri II which will keep recording data and relay it to mainland India, even if the station remains unmanned for some period.
• The construction of the research station is expected to be completed by January 2029.
• Nodal Agency: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the nodal agency responsible for operating and organising missions to Antarctica and the Arctic.

Key Facts about Maitri Station

• It has been hosting researchers since 1989, and is located along the Schirmacher Oasis — a 20 km-long ice-free landmass in East Antarctica.
• It comprises the main building, a fuel farm, a fuel station, a lake water pump house, a summer camp, and several smaller containerised modules.
• Maitri can accommodate between 25 and 40 scientists, depending on mission requirements and season.
• India’s other research base in Antarctica: Dakshin Gangotri (first base in Antarctica), operated for a few years. Bharati which is operational since 2012.

Source: IE

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