Dimapur, September 10 (MExN): The 29th State Geological Programming Board (SGPB) meeting was inaugurated here at the conference hall of the department of Geology & Mining by Parliamentary Secretary Y Patton today. The meeting is being attended by distinguished geoscientists and professionals from various central government, state departments and private sectors.
The chief guest, Patton, who is also Parliamentary Secretary for Geology & Mining, in his inaugural speech pointed out that the SGPB meeting is important as it is necessary to periodically review the progress made in mineral exploration and developmental activities including oil and groundwater resources as well as other scientific pursuits in the state and to formulate appropriate strategies to develop judiciously for the benefit of the state and its people.
“I hope this deliberation will provide ample opportunity to the officers of the state departments particularly in mineral developmental sectors,” Patton said. Asserting that the state’s department of Geology & Mining has sufficient manpower including highly qualified professionals and technical personnel, Patton, however, expressed an urgent need to review its activities towards a new and commercial outlook for pragmatic planning and judicious development of undiscovered mineral resources. Unless these are developed and used for betterment of society, he said, their worth would remain zero.
Patton asserted that it is high time for the department of Geology & Mining to bring out a new concept and vision for the present and the future and change according to the needs of the time. “We must formulate pragmatic and time bound approaches to increase production and judiciously plan policies to reduce costs with maximum benefit of the people. In this direction we look forward to the support and cooperation of insightful and eminent scientists present here,” the Parliamentary Secretary said.
Earlier during the programme, the Director of Geology & Mining, H K Chishi, in his introductory speech, informed the audience that the department has been making relentless efforts towards mineral exploration and developmental activities in the state during the last four decades with full support and guidance of various Central and state government departments, through which the department has now established the state’s geology and mineral potentiality.
Chishi disclosed that the department’s recent efforts towards base and noble metal and other PG elements in ophiolite belt of the state is also shaping up positively, for which concerted efforts from both domestic and foreign exploration agencies – because of its precision and high tech nature of input – will be needed, the Director disclosed.
While requesting the delegates to participate in the deliberations freely and share their views, Chishi asserted that the SGPB is the apex forum in the state to deliberate and formulate prospective mineral developmental and related geo-scientific activities in the state. He also said that it is an opportune time to exchange their expertise and ideas with fellow colleagues through which result oriented activities can be formulated.
Prof. Soibam Ibotombi from the department of Earth Sciences, Manipur University, gave a presentation on ‘Structural and Tectonic framework of the Indo-Myanmar (Burma) Range and its implication’. Dr. B P Baruah, Scientist & HoD of Coal Chemistry, NEIST, also presented a lecture on the ‘availability & suitability of Nagaland coal for generation of Thermal Power’.
The technical session of the meeting was held right after the inaugural programme with the Additional Director of DGM, S K Kenye, as moderator for the session. The review of works done by the GSI, NEIST, IBM, CGWB, NSMDC Ltd, NU NESAC and others was done during the technical session. The delegates also held a discussion on the agenda of the meeting.
