GSI status soon be elevated at par with atomic energy dept

The country?s premier survey body, Geological Survey of India (GSI) may soon get a status elevation as an attached department of the government of India, in similar lines to the department of atomic energy.

According to sources, the high powered committee for GSI met on May 29 and 30 in presence of additional secretary, ministry of mines, S Vijay Kumar, where an urgent need was felt to elevate GSI?s position to keep it relevant in today?s world.

The expert panel on modernisation of GSI (2000) had recommended that status of GSI be upgraded to an attached department of the government of India as the ?department of earth sciences”, with the DG, GSI as secretary (ex-officio) to the government of India. The Varma Committee (2002) recommended establishment of a department of earth sciences with GSI as the executive arm and the DG, GSI concurrently as the secretary to GOI. Sources said this is necessary to strengthen the role of GSI as an advisor to the nation in all matters of earth resource development, including devising strategy for exploration of mineral and energy resources, natural hazard mitigation, risk management, protection of environment, particularly in the era of liberalisation.

Sources pointed out that although GSI is designated as a ?subordinate? office but it already functions as an ?attached? office for all practical purposes except for the administrative power.

Only 30% of GSI?s activities (industry and non-coal minerals) are directly under the ambit of department of mines, sources added.

To take care of the daily requirement of interaction with different ministries/departments and enable better coordination between the ministry of mines and GSI, a proposal to shift its head from Kolkata to Delhi is being also considered by the HPC.

As a part of its restructuring, a department of geosciences is also sought to be created with DG, GSI as ex-officio secretary and GSI being its executive arm.

Sources added GSI wants its head to be a person preferably from geology stream or at the most from geophysics (exploration). The proposed board of management for GSI is not required and a proposal to even have a ministry of geological sciences is being mooted.