63rd Central Geological Programming Board meeting held
Bhopal: The 63rd Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting was held today in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines. Shri Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Shri Janardan Prasad, Director General, GSI,senior functionaries of different Ministries, State Directorates of Mining & Geology, PSUs, representatives from private mining industry, Mining associations and other stakeholders attended thecrucial meeting.
The proposed Annual Programme for ensuing Field Season year 2024-25 was placed before the Board for discussion. During the ensuing year 2024-25 GSI has formulated about 1055 scientific programs for the year 2024-25, which includes 392 Mineral Development projects (G2;G3;G4; and Offshore Explorations) that has the potential to generate auctionable mineral blocks in near future. 133 projects with mineral bias or Mineral Discovery Projects (RMT; Research Project; C-MAP;GT; MPA; Multispectral/Hyperspectral projects) having potential for generating promising areas for future exploration in G4 stage.
Thrust on exploration of strategic and fertilizer minerals
The exploration activity, the major thrust has been given on the exploration of strategic & critical and fertilizer minerals. A total of 188 projects on these strategically important mineral commodities like REE, RM, Graphite, Lithium, Vanadium and PGE etc. have been approved for the year 2024-25,which is almost a jump of 50% from previous year’s target.
Also 111 projects under Natural Hazard Studies/Public Good Geoscience have been taken having societal benefits.Among these, 25 programmes are being taken up on State request/Disaster Management Authorities which includes programme mostly covering the Natural Hazards and 43 programmes are in collaboration with universities / agencies / under sponsorship of different authorities like IITs, NGRI, DRDO, NRSC-ISRO, University of Hyderabad, ASI, CGWB Ministry of Jal Shakti, SJVNL, NWDA, Indian Railways, BRO and State Irrigation Departments etc.
Besides, approval of the FSP items of GSI, the Report on Geological & Geotechnical investigation of Joshimath Township, Chamoli District was also unveiled by Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines for handing it over to Uttarakhand Govt. The Mineral Map of the newly carved out UT of Ladakh was also released on this occasion along with other significant publication of GSI.
MP tops in auction of mineral blocks
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that all the states including Madhya Pradesh will benefit from the mining sector reforms and innovations guided by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will benefit the States including mineral-rich Madhya Pradesh. Implementation of the reforms and innovations will further enrich state’s economy. The transparent and accountable systems the mining process will enhance credibility.
Madhya Pradesh got the first award in the country for the best performance in the auctioning of mineral blocks. The Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav received a certificate for this remarkable achievement. It is noteworthy that Madhya Pradesh has stood first in the country by auctioning 29 mining blocks. Critical Mineral Report of Madhya Pradesh was also presented to Chief Minister Dr. Yadav.
