Question : GEO SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME

(a) whether the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has undertaken offshore geo-scientific programmes in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years, till date;

(c) whether GSI has hired small-mechanised boats for the said purpose;

(d) if so, the number of boats hired during each of the last three years till date;

(e) the details of the programmes undertaken by such vessels during the said period; and

(f) the expenditure incurred on hiring of such boats alongwith the income earned by GSI from sponsored work by various agencies during the said period?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICAL & FERTILIZER AND MINSITRY OF MINES ( SHRI B. K. HANDIQUE )

(a) and (b) : Yes, Sir. Geological Survey of India has one deep sea research vessel R.V. Samudra Manthan and two coastal vessels R.V. Samudra Kaustubh and R.V. Samudra Shaudhikama to undertake offshore geoscientific programmes. The details of work done by these 3 vessels are as per Annexure.

(c) to (e) : Yes, Sir. Six mechanised boats were hired during Field Season [F.S.] 2004-05, five mechanised boats were hired during F.S. 2005-06 and three mechanised boats were hired during F.S. 2006-07. The details of programmes undertaken by hired boats are as under :

Field Season 2004-05

# Studies of sediment dynamics, coastal processes and shoreline changes off Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu [T.N.].

# Close spaced bathymetric survey and geo environmental evaluation of the area between Kachuberia and Silver Tree point and Geoarchaeological studies in Baheril and Geonkhali, West Bengal [W.B.].

# Seabed survey for construction sand in inner shelf of Andaman Sea.

# Near shore/coastal study off Karaikal and Nagapattinam (T.N.).

# Part of the programme of monitoring of coastal processes and shoreline changes off Godavari Delta, Andhra Pradesh [A.P.].

Field Season 2005-06

# Close-spaced bathymetric survey and geoenvironmental evaluation of the area between Kachuberia and Silver Tree point and Geoarchaeological studies in Baheril and Geonkhali.

# Study of creeks in Sundarbans. W.B.

# Mapping of islands/islets and study of near-shore areas in Arabian Sea off Kaup and Hangarkatta, Karnataka.

# Part of the programme of monitoring of coastal processes and shoreline changes off Godavari Delta, A.P.

# Part of the programme of geotechnical investigation off Hangarkatta, Karnataka.

Field Season 2006-07

# Study of creeks in Sundarbans, W.B.

# Bathymetric survey and geo-environmental study of Hatalia-Doania River (between Muri Ganga and Saptamukhi River).

# Part of the programme of monitoring of coastal processes and shoreline changes off Godavari Delta, A.P.

(f) : The expenditure for hiring of mechanized boats including fuel and crew charges and the total income earned by GSI from sponsored work is given below :

Field season 2004-05	Field season 2005-06	Field season 2006-07
Total Expenditure Incurred	Rs.1,46,233	Rs.1,13,600	Rs,1,14,000
Total Income Earned	Rs.3,90,52,750	Rs.3,79,41,525	Nil