Nagpur | Feb 10, 2017: If Nagpur is able to assert itself, it may get a national research centre of excellence in geology, mining and exploration. Nagpur is in the running with Hyderabad for the proposed centre. The names of the two cities have been put forth under the recently cleared National Mineral Exploration Policy 2016 by the union cabinet.
"Compared to Hyderabad, Nagpur has many more institutions associated with mineral exploration mining and mineral utilization," said Sudesh K Wadhawan, former director general of GSI here on Thursday. These include Indian Bureau of Mines, Geological Survey of India, Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, Atomic Mineral Directorate for Exploration and Research, Directorate General of Mining, Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Development and Design Centre and a very old and established geology department at the university. "Hence I see a very high chance for Nagpur for the centre. It is necessary for resourcing of future generations under the International Union of Geolgical Sciences," Wadhawan said.
He was in city for delivering a key note address in the two day national symposium on 'Challenges and Strategies in Mineral Exploration and Mining' organized by the Gondwana Geological Society of the department of geology of Nagpur University.
Wadhawan said that mining was a risky venture full of uncertainties. "But if the sector has to compete with that in the developed world, it has to work on the geological, economic and environmental guidelines of United Nations Framework Classification to make a commercially viable venture," he said.
India has already incentivized foreign direct investment (FDI) under which it will be giving free of cost data on three geosciences fronts: the geological mapping on 1:50,000 scale, geochemical mapping (sediment samples) and geophysical mapping to all stakeholders involved from exploration to mining. The country has about 5.71 lakh sq km obvious geological potential (OGP) area. "Under the first phase geological mapping will be completed by 2018 and geophysical mapping by 2010," said Wadhawan.
The former DG went on to stress that for allowing FDI in the sector Indian experts need to monitor the foreign companies engaged in the process. This will require support of Indian experts and this can be happen only when we have trained professionals and researchers generated from centres of excellence being envisaged at Nagpur. It will also require support from the academia to avoid the FDI in dictating terms their terms to India. "We can also have universities running MBA course for geology professionals," said Wadhawan.
Wadhawan said that India also need to work in international collaborative projects as it has already opened up the sector for FDI. "In fact I feel there should be a research cell directly under PMO or Niti Ayog to promote international trade in the right manner," he said.
Symposium on Challenges and Strategies in Mineral Exploration and Mining inaugurated
"It is a matter of pride that the Gondwana Geological Society (GGS) works from the university's geology department. Research in any other subjects has no limitations. But research in geology needs to have boundaries as it has direct ramifications on the society. The research needs to be channelized for the betterment of the society," said Nagpur University vicec-chancellor SP Kane here on Thursday.
He was delivering the inaugural speech at the two-day national symposium on challenges and strategies in mineral exploration and mining organized by the GGS. Besides Kane, OP Yadav, regional director, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMDER), Central Region, and office-bearers of the GGS were also present on the occasion. Gondwana Geological Society.
Prof A M Pophare, head of geology department of NU and organizing secretary of the symposium, welcomed the gathering and briefed about the symposium theme. Prof P Kundal said that the society has 675 life members and is among the top scientific societies in India. A symposium volume with 50 research papers was released during the symposium.
Yadav said that for targeting mineral deposits, multi-pronged, multidisciplinary studies, interpretative skills, use of geophysical and geochemical techniques, drilling and later use of the latest software are needed.
M L Dora, joint organizing secretary conducted the proceedings and Dr P B Sarolkar, Secretary, GGS, proposed the vote of thanks.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)