India has generated a tremendous interest amongst mineral industry world over and is being keenly watched as a happening place by investors in the mining sector. This was stated by Shri J.P. Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Mines while chairing the 42nd Meeting of Central Geological Board here today. Shri Singh expressed confidence over FDI inflow increasing sharply in coming days. Referring to the important role of Geological Survey of India (GSI) in exploring minerals in the country, he informed that many countries have shown interest in collaborating with GSI in prospecting natural resources. They are seeking GSI’s support in training their manpower.
In the light of changes occurring in the mineral sector and also the changes suggested in the proposed New Mineral Policy, Mines Secretary stressed that GSI needs changes in their ethos enabling itself to serve the country better. He called upon State Governments to be more proactive in exploring/prospecting minerals which are backbone of the development and growth. The Board reviewed the achievements of the projects undertaken during 2006-07 and discussed and approved the Annual Programme of GSI for 2007-2008. The CGPB consisting of representatives of Central and State Government, Public Sector Undertakings and some academic institutions, is the apex body at the national level to overview the programme of geoscientific activities including mineral exploration in the country.
Highlights of the GSI achievements during 2006-07 include assessment of an additional resource of 2290.14 million tonnes of coal during 2006-07 (upto June 2007). It explored additional gold ore resource of 0.48 million tonnes in Tumkur district of Karnataka, 7.32 million tonnes in Banswara district of Rajasthan. GSI located two kimberlite (host rock of diamond) pipes each in Mahbood Nagar and Timmasamumdran districts of A.P. GSI also assessed iron ore resources in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. Apart from this, GSI successfully explored various mineral resources like basemetal (copper ore) in Rajasthan and Maharashtra, Manganese and Bauxite in Orissa, Graphite in Tamil Nadu and Limestone in Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya.
GSI undertakes its activity particularly in the context of the need to augment mineral resources of the country. Special Thematic Mapping (STM) followed by Geochemical (GCM) and Geophysical Mapping (GPM) constitute the core activity in recent years. While integration of these maps will help to shortlist more target areas for minerals, such data can also be utilized for various other downstream applications. GSI extends support to mineral investigation through acquisition of airborne data. Study of Coal and Lignite is another field where GSI is omnipresent. The fields of activity under Engineering, Earthquake and Environmental Geology has undergone sea changes in recent years with renewed emphasis on hydel power and river linking projects. In formulating guidelines for mitigation of earthquake and landslide hazards GSI is giving its inputs to National Disaster Management Authority.
RCJ/AS
(Release ID :31509)