Minister for Coal, Mines and Union Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Thursday urged the Geological Survey of India to reduce the deadlines for submitting mineral exploration reports.

The minister has requested the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to complete the study and preparation of the report within a year using the latest technology, the mines ministry said in a statement.

Joshi urged the GSI to “reduce the time required to complete the field investigation and submit reports of potential mineral resource deposits in the country,” according to the statement.

Addressing the 61st meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) here on Thursday, Joshi said the GSI, which has a 175-year legacy as a prestigious institution, should contribute to the ministry’s recent efforts. des Mines to achieve self-sufficiency in mineral resources.

Joshi said the efforts of GSI and the private sector can go a long way.

The minister pointed out that India has vast deposits of minerals. ”However, we import different types of minerals in large quantities. This is also true in the case of fertilizers.” Joshi asked GSI scientists to analyze global trends in preparing potential reports on mineral deposits.

Stressing the importance of the latest technologies in mining exploration, Joshi pledged all kinds of assistance to GSI from the Ministry of Mines.

Joshi delivered seven Resource Geological Reports (Steps G2 and G3) of commodities such as copper, bauxite, potash, limestone and iron and manganese to DGM representatives from the respective states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

Blocks of potential G4 minerals, to be auctioned as Composite License (CL), have been handed over to respective state representatives from 11 states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Rajasthan. .

These potential blocks consist of mineral commodities like base metal, bauxite, phosphorite, gypsum, limestone, graphite, gold, nickel, chromium, iron, manganese, PGE and diamond .

Some publications and a video on “Marine Mineral Exploration by GSI” were also released during the meeting.

Earlier, addressing the meeting during the closing session, the Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, Alok Tondon, said that a number of new projects were being developed by GSI based on the demand of the state governments.

He said that India is on par with any other wealthy nation when it comes to mineral resources.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Mines, Geological Survey of India (GSI), members of other central ministries, state directorates of mines and geology, representatives of the private mining industry, PSUs, mining associations and other stakeholders attended the meeting.

The GSI has formulated about 983 scientific programs for the year 2022-23, including 250 mineral exploration programs including 14 marine mineral investigation programs.

Emphasis was placed on the exploration of strategic minerals – critical and fertilizers.

A total of 106 projects on strategic and critical minerals, including 20 projects on fertilizing minerals, have been proposed for the year 2022-23.

Around a hundred programs with a strong socio-economic impact have been offered as part of the Geosciences Public Good.

In 2021-2022, GSI implemented 979 programs, including 251 mineral exploration programs, including 11 marine mineral research programs and 106 geoscience public good programs.

During 2022-23, out of 983 projects, GSI will support 32 programs at the request of state governments; 12 programs in collaboration with national institutes, organizations and IITs.

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