India and the United Kingdom will collaborate on research on different aspects of the Ganga delta region and the Bay of Bengal, a top official of the Ministry of Earth Sciences said Thursday.
M Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said deliberations in this regard were on between the two sides.
"The Ganga delta is eco-sensitive. It is necessary to study it, as an impact on it will have a cascading effect on population, which is in high density in the region, agriculture and environment," he said.
The Bay of Bengal, Rajeevan said, is also critical to India in terms of resources and also has an impact on the Southwest Monsoon, the lifeline of the country.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a programme launched by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Rajeevan added that the two sides will finalise the partnering agencies for the project soon.
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The two countries are also collaborating in several areas of earth sciences and weather, like the monsoon.
Speaking at the event, British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith said the partnership through the UKRI has generated innovative scientific and technological solutions that will "transform both our societies and economies".