16-Feb-2018: 57th Meeting of Central Geological Programming Board

The 57th Meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) was inaugurated. Discussions were held on achievements of GSI(Geological Survey of India) during the current year and also the proposed Annual Programme for ensuing 2018-19 was presented before all Board members. An exhibition was also opened displaying the entire gamut of ongoing activities of Geological Survey of India (GSI). During the occasion, four GSI publications were released.

GSI has already launched Multi-sensor Aero-geophysical Surveys to target deep seated and concealed mineral deposits using global expertise and knowledge that will generate aero-geophysical data of 27 lakh line square kilometres by 2019. This would help locating new target areas of ground exploration enabling the nation to harness hitherto unknown potential mineral wealth. In view of the rapid depletion of surface/near-surface deposits, there is paradigm shift in thrust to probe deep-seated deposits under Project: Uncover in collaboration with Geoscience Australia. Furthermore, from 2018-19 onwards GSI is launching ‘Regional Mineral Targeting’ programme in five Regions through integration of all baseline data of ground survey and aerial survey in GIS platform for prognosticating novel areas in the ambit of regional scale mineral exploration. The offshore research and exploration capacities of GSI is going to be enhanced with acquisition of a new state of the art ocean-going Geotechnical Vessel by 2019-20 (R V Samudra Vedhani) at an approximate cost of Rs.250 crore having the capabilities of drilling in shallow water towards offshore exploration of placer deposits, phosphorite and gas hydrates as well as catering to the development of ports.

High quality regional exploration data of GSI including maps are being disseminated free of charges in public domain through its online web portal. This would encourage more exploration agencies, both national and global, to come forward and participate in exploration activities in India. GSI launched the interactive map service platform– ‘Bhukosh’ in its web portal for use by all stakeholders and citizen of India. Besides fundamental research on intricate problems of geosciences, GSI is involved in several societal projects encompassing Landslide Hazard, 2 communication/ hydroelectric and earthquake domains.

GSI is the nodal agency for landslide studies in India. GSI is committed to complete about 2,32,720 sq. km of National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) by March 2019. It is the pivotal organization, under the aegis of Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Earth Science, in hosting the 36th International Geological Congress (36th IGC, 2020) in Delhi during 2-8 March, 2020.  Geological Survey of India Training Institute (GSITI) has entered into MoU with IIT, Hyderabad for a period of five years that envisages capacity building towards collaborative research leading to Ph.D. degree. During ensuing operational year 2018-19, GSI has proposed 913 regular standard programmes, which includes 374 programmes of baseline geoscience data generation to pave the way for downstream exploration activities.

During 2018-19, GSI is taking up thirty-eight mineral exploration programmes that are direct spin-offs from the earlier baseline survey programmes. In the natural resource arena, 208 programmes comprising 168 mineral explorations, 12 coal exploration, 3 geothermal explorations, 17 marine mineral exploration and 8 R&D programmes have been planned. GSI will also take up 41 programmes of geoinformatics, 175 programmes of fundamental and multidisciplinary geoscience and 115 programmes of capacity building. During 2018-19, GSI is going to take up 16 programmes at the request of State Governments, 8 programmes in collaboration with national institutes like BARC, IIT (ISM), CGWB, NIO etc. and 4 programmes will be taken up with international collaborators like British Geological Survey (BGS), Geoscience Australia (GA).

1-Jan-2018: 9th High Powered Review Board Meeting of Brahmaputra Board Held

The 9th meeting of High Powered Review Board of Brahmaputra Board was held at Borgos, Kaziranga in Assam on December 30, 2017.

The meeting was chaired by Sri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. He launched the Mathematical Model Study prepared by IIT, Guwahati called Brahma-ID on this occasion. This project has been sponsored by Brahmaputra Board for an amount of Rs. 3.00 crore.

The key points that were discussed and agreed upon during the 9th meeting of 9th High Powered Review Board were as follows:-

• High Powered Review Board (HPRB) approved restructuring of Brahmaputra Board and advised that funds should be largely spent for works and limited funds should be spent for establishment costs including salary and wages.
• HPRB ratified the project for protection of Majuli Island from flood and erosion for an amount of Rs. 237 crore.
• HPRB approved the establishment of Brahmaputra Board office complex in Majuli and handing over the works to NPCC, a PSU of the Ministry.
• HPRB approved that the preparation of Master Plans, Feasibility Reports and DPRs for development of the complete Brahmaputra basin be also given to WAPCOS, a PSU under the Ministry.
• HPRB suggested to create a Centre for Brahmaputra Studies in IIT, Guwahati covering multi-disciplinary aspects of hydrology, environment, inland waterways, agriculture and sociology. For this purpose, IIT, Guwahati will identify and earmark a land area of about four acres for development of the Centre and the Government of India will support establishment of this Centre.
• HPRB advised to take up actively afforestation and catchment area treatment in the upper riparian states to prevent soil erosion and sedimentation. For this purpose MoWR, RD &GR will prepare a proposal through Brahmaputra Board and take it up with MoEF & CC for consideration and release funds through CAMPA.
• HPRB advised Brahmaputra Board to share Master Plans for all the river basins with party Sates by March 31, 2018.
• HPRB advised Brahmaputra Board to constitute an Advisory Board in all the basin States. The Advisory Board should include NGOs, political leadership, Water Resources Department officials so that they may become active stakeholders in the management of Brahmaputra basin.
• HPRB recognized need among basin Sates to build their capacity of Water Resources Departments. To this end, HPRB advised Brahmaputra Board and Central Water Commission to conduct regional workshops in every basin State to enable the states to build capacity especially in the field of preparation of Master Plans, Feasibility Reports and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
• HPRB recognized the fact that Brahmaputra river offers great opportunities for economic growth and employment generation in the NE States through development of inland waterways, tourism, industry, agriculture and allied sectors. To this end, comprehensive DPRs need to be developed for integrated water management. These DPRs should be bankable which can be taken up for external funding with International Agencies like World Bank, JICA, and ADB etc. The HPRB formed a Committee comprising Chairman, Brahmaputra Board, Chief Secretary, Assam and Chief Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh to determine the terms of reference for this purpose. The HPRB further directed that this work of comprehensive integrated master plan be assigned to WAPCOS, a PSU of Ministry, who may partner with leading global organizations working in the field of integrated water management.

Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari hoped that Brahmaputra Board will turn these challenges of flood, erosion and sedimentation in Brahmaputra into opportunities for great economic growth with the cooperation of all stakeholders. He summed up with his vision for development of Brahmaputra as a great bridge to link India with South East Asia.