Preparations for the exploration of manganese nodules began in the year 1977, when major items required for the deep seabed survey were ordered and changes in Research Vessel Gaveshani were initiated to accommodate several instruments and devices including a geological winch with a ten thousand metre long wire rope. Instruments and all other necessary items were procured and the first two cruises started in December 1980 and ended via mauritius in February 1981. After these cruises, work on polymetallic nodules was recognised by the U.N.Convention on the Law of Sea as Pioneer Investor in deep seabed mining. From then onwards, a massive effot was put in by India for the exploration of polymetallic nodules was continued during the year. In 1982, India was recognised by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea as Pioneer Investor in deep seabed mining. From then onwards, a massive effort was put in by India for the exploration a polymetalic nodules on the Central Indian Ocean, primarily to identify two mine sites ( application areas) within the stipulated time fixed by the U.N.Preparatory Commission of the International Seabed Authority. The co-ordinates of the appication areas ( 2 areas of 150, 000 sq.km each and of equal commercial value) were determined by the end of 1983 and the application of India was filed with the Preparatory Commission in January 1984. The pioneer status in deep seabed exploration was accorded to India in April 1982 along with France, Japan and the USSR and four multi-national consortia on the basis of substantial investments activities. The application of India to Preparatory Commission for registration was considered favourably. The process of registration , however, was delayed because of the problems of overlap in the application areas of France, Japan and USSR which had also applied for mine sites in Pacific Ocean. Intensive negotiations were held in meetings of the Preparatory Commision among the Pioneer Investor countries since 1984 to resolve the problem of overlap and to facilitate the process of registration. After prolonged discussions, a basi for resolving the overlapping was free from overlap, the Preparatory Commision accepted the details provided by India registered India's application on 17 August, 1987. India, thus obtained its registration as the first pioneer Investor and a mine site of 1,50,000 sq.km. in the Central Indian Ovean was allotted. The recognition of India as a Pioneer Investor in deep seabed exploration and registration of India as the first Pioneer Investor have been the major landmarks in the implementation of the deep seabed exploration programme. These indicate the scientific competence and self-reliance which the country has achieved during the 40th Anniversary of India's Independence. India is the only developing country to have qualified for the Pioneer Status and the first country in the world to have secured the registration of a mining site. It provides a concrete proof of India's scientific capabilities and chievements in a new frontier area of science and technology.

As far as mining is concerned, we hope that " test mining" will take place at first before commercial mining begins. Since the technology for deep seabed mining is of recent origin and is not fully available within the country, the mining technology will have to be obtained either through and outright purchase or through chatering of a mining vessel from friendly countries to carry out the test mining. However, R and D efforts in mining and transportation of nodules will be undertaken with the support of national agencies primarily to absorb and evaluate the technology. Similarly, the metallurgy of nodules will have to be developed and the process of extraction evaluated within the country.

After tge registration of the mine site, several activities of the programme will hafe to accelerated to meet the time schedule of the project. As the programme is of multidisciplinary and multiagency in nature, it demands an effectice co-ordination and management of activities spread over a large number agencies. Therefore, it would be desirable to create an autonomous organisational structure like a " Commision" or a "Authority" which will be directly responsible for the implementation of the programme. Simultaneously, possibilities of collaborations with outside countries will have to be explored particularly for developing the mining system.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to several institutions of India which have extended their co-operation and support to the nodules programme. In particular, I would like to mention the work of the NIO, Goa, for conduction an intensive exploration of the nodules without which India's application for the registration of mine site would not have been possible. For this I would like to thank the present Director of NIO, Dr. B.N.Desai and all his colleagues who participated in the exploration work for several years, and particularly to Shri R.R.Nair for handling the project most effectively. The Rand D work on extractive metallurgy of nodules was carried out by the Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar, the national Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, the Hindustan Zinc Limited and Hindustan Copper Limited. I must thank the Directors or the Jeads of these instututions for the interest they have shown in running the various processes in their laboratories for the extraction of copper, nickel and cobalrt. My thanks are also due to our consultants, the Engineers India Limited( EIL) and the Metallurgical and Engineering Consultant ( MECON) for providing the different types of services for monitoring and evaluation of the work carried out by the different laboratories. The help and interest of Dr. A.P .Mitra, FRS, Director General , CSIR and Shri B.K.Rao, Secretary, Department of Mines are indeed greatly appreciated. The work of Shri P.N.Mukherjee, Director in this department for handling the project effectively and for co-ordinating the work of different institutions and of Shri M.M.K.Sardana, Joint Secretary and Shri Bhimsen Rao, Principal Scientific Officer in this department for negotiation India's case in international meetings with competence require special mention and admiration. The story of the nodules programme in India would not be complete unless I make a special mention of the leadership and direction given by teh late Dr. H.N.Siddiquie, former Director of NIO, to his young coleagues in the exploration work.