Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that he was happy to note that activities of GSI have increased manifold and to intensify deep sea research & mineral exploration.
GSI has recently acquired R. V. Samudra Ratnakar, state-of-the-art Ocean Research Vessel which will add new dimension to sea-bed mapping and mineral exploration along the coastal line.
In this context, the launch of a programme on National High Resolution Seabed Mapping and Natural Resource Evaluation are quite significant. GSI has also established three new offices in Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar and Chennai and trained 81 scientists of GSI in institutions abroad to get familiarized with the functioning of various equipment on board this new ship.
Aerial surveys have attained importance in identifying mineral-probable terrains. Keeping pace with this trend, GSI has acquired an Advanced Light Helicopter, Garuda-Vasudha.
The survey system comprises sensors for generating magnetic, time-domain electromagnetic, gravity and radiometric data that would help in generating 3-D subsurface data for targeting mineral potential areas including those located in hilly, forest covered and inaccessible regions.
The induction of the research vessel and the helicopter would improve the sample and data generation capability of the GSI.
Appreciating the scientists for their contribution in mineral exploration the Minister said that in the year 2012-13, their efforts have resulted in significant augmentation in the resources of cement grade limestone deposits, gypsum, bauxite and coal.
Resources of basemetals in Khera block of Alwar district and Mahua block in Sikar district in Rajasthan; iron ore in Sundargarh district of Odisha; manganese ore in Odisha and Maharashtra and phosphorite in Madhya Pradesh have also been identified.
The Minister also praised GSI for collaborating with NTPC for the development of geothermal resources of Tatapani area in Madhya Pradesh and added that GSI’s mission on Groundwater Hydrology will play an important role in the conservation and recharge of groundwater resources.
The Minister inaugurated a program on the National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping which would help in prevention of landslide and related disasters and an exhibition depicting two very relevant themes, the Marine and Coastal Survey and International Geological Congress.
In the past GSI has completed reconnoitory mapping of over 98 percent of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and has also identified offshore mineral resources like mud and phosphatic sediments. The Minister said that he was happy to know that the marine maps covering EEZ of India will soon be published and made accessible to all.
A number of publications of the Marine and Coastal Survey Division and GSI were released on the occasion.
Present on the occasion were Shri R.H. Khwaja, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Shri R. Sridharan, Additional Secretary, Shri D.S. Mishra, Joint Secretary, and Dr. S. K. Wadhawan, Director General, GSI, and Officials of State Departments of Geology and Mines, Representatives of the Central Ministries and Institutions and other senior officials of the Ministry and GSI.
