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Tomar for time-bound action plan for resource mapping

November 12: Minister of Steel and Mines Narendra Singh Tomar feels the Geo-Science Advisory Council (GAC) must develop a time-bound action plan to complete geo-physical and geo-chemical mapping of national sources in the country to attracting investments.

Speaking at a meeting of GAC in Delhi on November 12, Tomar said an area of almost 0.8 million square kilometres in the country have been identified as “obvious geological potential” (OGP), but geo-physical and geo-chemical mapping has been achieved only to a limited extent.

“Since the field of mining is directly linked to country’s growth, we must develop a time-bound action plan to complete geo-physical and geo-chemical mapping of our national resources and share this data in public domain to attract investment in mining,” the minister said.

He added that the GAC, with its expertise and experience, should recommend solutions to fast-track exploration activities in the country so that this resource base can be utilised in the best possible manner.

He further observed that the GAC’s recommendations should contain specific actionable points.

The GAC provides a platform to the administrators, earth scientists and academicians to deliberate and suggest the gap areas in the existing system of pursuing geo-science and the direction which organisations, individually and collectively, should pursue to meet future challenges.