Dehradun: Stressing on the need to exploit the country's maritime zones, President A P J Abdul Kalam today (June 1, 2004) called for evolving a national plan for the economic development of oceans.

"We have to map our maritime zones with its living and non-living resources as a first step towards sustained economic development in the sea areas," Kalam said at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the National Hydrographic Office in Dehradun.

Observing that two million square kilometre area were added to India's jurisdiction at a recent United Nations convention with full economic exploitation rights, Kalam called on the Navy to undertake surveys for promoting ocean safety and studies to stop erosion of small islands.

"Department of Ocean Development, Surveyor General of India and National Hydrographic Office (NHO) may have to work together in evolving a national plan for implementing this economic development", Kalam said at a function marking the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the NHO.

Lauding the NHO's contribution in providing survey data, Kalam said there was a need to frame rules and regulations of the development activities, consistent with the national security needs within the maritime zones of the country.

He also asked ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corp) and Geological Survey of India to cooperate in the promotion of ocean safety and ocean development.

He asked the NHO to precisely detect methane hydrate deposits which is reported to be available in the East and West coasts.