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RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VARIOUS NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS HELD DURING THE 150TH YEAR OF CELEBRATION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA TILL NOVEMBER, 2001
MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS
GSI need to pursue with thrust its core competency i.e. mapping (Thematic mapping, geochemical mapping, ground and airborne geophysical mapping and marine survey) to better understand the crustal growth, general geology, marine exploration and metallogenesis, soil fertility and its relation to agriculture, human and animal health and create valid envionmental data base through understanding the chemistry of the environment and other nuances of the nature.
- Understanding earth science is of prime importance for any environmental or natural hazard protection or minimising the miseries inflicted on the population. It is an interplay of geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. With the enormous data base and expertise GSI should play a vital role in all planning procedures and Govt. of India should make regulatory provisions for this important role. Institutional representation of GSI is also recommended for clearance of all developmental projects and formulation of Environmental Protection Acts.
- Suitable amendment in the Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1986; Environmental Waste Management and Handling Rules - 1989 and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification-1994, particularly Sections 10,11 and 12 of the EPA-1986 and Schedule 1 and 3 of EIA Notification-1994, will have to be made to provide rightful role to the Geological Survey of India through statutory provisions.
- Strong vested interests need to be kept at bay while implementing hard decisions arising out of the societal needs to protect the environment for posterity against the short-term gains.
- Due certification by a qualified earth scientist regarding the environmental aspects should be made mandatory in applications for prospecting/mining license. One window clearance of such applications was also recommended.
- Since development and its impact on environment is a dynamic process and function of complex set of variables/parameters, the existing system of one time clearance needs to be followed by suitable reviews periodically (e.g. 5-10 years). This clause needs to be vigorously followed and strictly implemented.
- Environmental degradation and pollution being a major challenge to the society as a whole, can be tackled by collective efforts only. In this, the scientists, politicians, bureaucrats, common man as well as the media have to play their respective roles.
- Forest Act and Mining Act needs to be revised for propagating the cause of environment conscious sustainable development.
- GSI being a survey organisation should act as the infrastructure support system for the Govt. through making available the earthscience data, thereby minimising the risk of investments in high risk ventures e.g. mineral exploration, construction of dams, hydel power stations and selecting sites for urbanisation etc.
- Mineral being of strategic importance, adequate govt. funding is needed to continue necessary mineral exploration, both by Central and State Govts.
- GSI must have mineral exploration as its thrust area. It should work as a technical arm of Govt. of India.
- GSI’s role in search of minerals is immense. GSI should assess quantity as well as quality at the programming stage itself by indicating the recovery feasibility. Ore beneficiation studies are needed, in coordination with departments like IBM.
- There is also a need for reviewing all mineral deposits explored more than a decade ago in view of (I) Advancement in ore dressing/beneficiation technique and (ii) Technological advancement in utilising low grade ores in metallurgy and value added products.
- Several innovative methods applied in locating new deposits in China, Australia and Brazil needs to be studied in-depth for their relevant application for exploration under progress in India.
- Conceptual modelling along with geological and tectonic studies using advances in geological knowledge may be applied to define new targets for further exploration.
- Geological concepts should be developed in totality and applied with holistic approach in global scenario.
- Study of geodynamic processses for accumulation, nature and behaviour of ore minerals in different environments is essential to predict areas hosting mineralisation,
- There is a need to cover large part of the country by detailed geophysical surveys.
- There is a need to review the vast archival geophysical data for taking up ground follow up studies
- High resolution air-borne surveys with greater depth penetration may be conducted in known belts and predictive areas.
- There is a need to carry out airborne surveys along the coast line of the country.
- There should be a separate subcommitte on Geophysics at the CGPB, including ground, airborne and marine surveys.
- The concepts of plume-related upswelling of magma in the evolution and dynamics of earth's crust and associated movement and deposition of mineralizing fluids should be applied and interpreted in the Indian context.
- R & D efforts to evaluate physical properties of rocks and minerals in the area of of investigations are essential requirements for interpretation and modelling of geophisical data.
- GSI must provide baseline geological data under various themes and carry out fundamental research in geological science adopting advanced technology.
- Fluid inclusions, isotopic and geochronological studies are required for better understanding of ore and mineral formation processes.
- Integration of various data on geology, geochemistry, geophysics, economic considerations and other related information may be done using GIS softwares to refine the possible targets in unknown areas so as to reduce the risk in investment.
- National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) must be set up involving GSI and other sister organizations engaged in earth science studies.
- Exploration strategies using advance techniques of geochemistry - Mobile forms of Metals in Over burden (MOMEO). Nanoscale metals in earth gas (NAMEG) and Mobile Metal Ion (MMI) and ground geophysical surveys, especially microgravity in favourable geological setting are necessary.
- Multi-elemental geochemical mapping and PGRS studies may be carried out in Precambrian terrain in order to search for Dhani Basri type Cu-Au mineralisation.
- Concentration of rare metals and REE reported from different parts of the country need further studies for their viability including beneficiation of such ores. Concentration of these elements may also be studied in the bauxite deposits of the country.
- Regional and semi-regional studies including ground geophysical surveys for rare metal and REE mineralisation in albitite zones especially in Khetri Belt are required U-Mo has already been established in this belt and their extensive need to be traced.
- Dugochite-Shungite reported from SE Rajasthan has multi-purpose utilities in several industries. Its scarch may be initiated in Rajasthan and other parts of the country having similar geological setting.
- Detailed reappraisal of known basemetal belts and their extension areas has to be carried out to identify gap areas in exploration for locating new/concealed deposits. There is also a need to carry out deeper level probing of lean and poor mineralised zones for locating richer zones at depth.
- Environmental impact of mining activities on human health and land resources must be studied and suggested preventive measures to be implemented and regularly monitored.
- Improved ICP AES analytical techniques may be used for accurate determinations of REE in geochemical samples.
- Intra-departmental seminars may be held regularly for integrated approach to mineral exploration and assessment of resources.
- Introductory syllabus of GEOLOGY may be introduced at school level education in the country.
- GSI and other exploration agencies should make more investment in exploration activity through technology upgradation and additional scientific and technical manpower deployment.
- Programmes on search for energy resources to meet the rising energy demands of growing population.
- Environmental factors would warrant increased tempo of exploration of coal containing less than 34% ash for power generation at comparatively lower levels (upto 300 m) and deeper probing up to 600 m and beyond for superior quality coal and high rank coal containing CBM.
- Demand for scarce non-renewable natural resources increasing day by day not only because of population growth (where India has to support 20% of the world population in 2.4% of world land area but also due to the development of the society leading to certain awareness. Potable water is one such commodity which is essential for sustenance of life.
Basic groundwater studies (because in future scenario rivers will not be draining to the sea due to creation of dam etc. and the cycle operative in the hydrosphere is going to be modified) to understand the groundwater flow regime and looking for inter-basinal transfer etc. were felt to be part of the mandate of the Geological Surveys as in the United States Geological Survey.
- GSI should play an integral and significant role in the preparation of dependable Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of all the river valley development projects.
- Programmes on geological input in issues of great societal values especially related to geological hazards like, landslide, earthquake, flood, coastal zone instability, desertification etc
- Since GSI is a pioneer organisation in the field of Seismotectonic studies and capable of undertaking ground surveys, it should be made a nodal agency for such studies, and equipped with modern instruments and GPS stations to monitor the ground movement/crustal deformations.
- Regional and site-specific hazards and risk zonation maps for earthquakes and landslides will have to be prepared and mitigation strategies evolved for vulnerable parts of the country. Active fault mapping and palaeoseismic studies will have to be carried out for a realistic assessment of seismic hazard potential of a region
- Being a pioneering agency, all the major developmental projects, including building complexes in areas of slope instability and high seismicity, should be geotechnically assessed by GSI.
- Slope and landslide zonation maps are basic inputs for any developmental and hazard management activity. Systematic zonation studies should be conducted throughout the country on a standard pattern, supplemented by instrumental data and processed using computer softwares, and the information should be disseminated to the public for mass awareness.
- A quantum jump recommended in upgradation of technology and customization of data to the requirement of users. There should not be any downsizing of GSI.
- The seminar emphasized and recommended the need to replace Samudra Manthan, the research vessel of GSI, at the earliest; so that remaining task of data generation towards LCS determined could be completed within the stipulated time limit of 2004. GSI should be equipped with deep seismic survey capability and state of art instruments for continuing sub-marine resource evaluation.
- A new platform with EM Survey facility need be available with GSI.
- For optimal utilization of GSI’s data products by the user agencies, which include planners, executors and industrialists, a proper mechanism will have to be evolved. For this an awareness and publicity drive may have to be launched.
- Programmes on customization of earth science data for dissemination to user agencies and government departments.
- Creation of development-oriented earth-science data base and maps of rural and urban areas.
- Procedure for accession of data from various Survey organisations and exploration agencies should be simplified and streamlined.
- Close interaction between Universities, Research Organisation and the Geological Surveys to promote curiosity driven basic researches in frontier areas of earth and planetary sciences through inter-disciplinary programmes.
- Major thrust to be given on updating knowledge of Geoscientists on latest IT developments.
- GSI should take lead role in the digitization of the database in GIS format in a time bound basis
- A comprehensive IT policy should be adopted. E-governance and e-business should be implemented.
- Field data collection through modern technology should be introduced
- Identify cultural and tourist interest places of geological importance to humanize the science of Geology.
- Adequate budgetary provision should be ensured for GSI so that it can continue the country wide work without any constraint.
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Last updated March 26. 2002