The
Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) is the apex body at the
national level to overview the programme of geoscientific activities including
mineral exploration in the country. It was established through Government of
India Resolution dt. 27th July, 1966, and subsequently revamped vide
Ministry of Mines resolution no. F. No. 4(2)97-M.I of 12th March,
2009 with the constitution of 12 theme based committees. This
notification also directed that CGPB meeting be held twice in a year. Vide
gazette notification No. 4(6)2013-M.I of 7th May 2013, the CGPB
meeting was revised to be held once a year in February.
The
Secretary (Mines) is the chairman of CGPB. Geological Survey of India is the
nodal department (Member Secretary) and the State Geology and Mining departments
and Central Government institutions, permanent and special invitees are its
participating members.
The
revamped CGPB coordinates activities on geological mapping, mineral
prospecting, exploration and exploitation in the country.
It
is responsible for providing the general strategic direction of geosciences
activity; effecting programmatic coordination among agencies; enabling better
interaction between central agencies and state level organizations; human
resource, and research capability; identifying new areas and new technologies
for geoscientific activities; advising on geosciences partnerships between GSI,
and State and Central – level agencies; actively promoting use of information
technology; and approving five-year detailed sub-sectoral targets on a rolling
plan basis.
The
Board, at present, is supported by the following 12 theme–based committees:
i. Ferrous
Minerals (Iron, Manganese & Chromite, etc.)
ii. Precious
Metals & Minerals (Gold, Platinum Group of elements, diamond & precious
stones)
iii. Non-Ferrous
and Strategic Mineral (Basemetal, Tin, Tungsten, Bauxite etc.)
iv. Industrial
& Fertilizer Minerals
v. Energy
Minerals & Resources (Coal, Lignite & Geothermal)
vi. Marine
Geology & Exploration and Coastal Geoscience
vii. Airborne
Survey & Remote Sensing
viii. Geology
& Mineral Resources of North Eastern Region
ix. Geoscientific
Investigation (Geotechnical Investigation, natural hazards, climate change,
Environmental Geology, Shallow subsurface Geology & Subsurface Hydrology)
x. Fundamental
and Multidisciplinary Geoscience
xi. Geoinformatics
and data management
xii. Geoscience
for sustainable development
The
process for CGPB starts with the meetings of the State Geological Programming
Boards (SGPB) wherein geological/mining issues pertaining to the state are
discussed, and the proposals of collaborations with GSI are formulated. These
proposals/recommendations are carried forward to the relevant CGPB Committees
(I-XII), where they are finalized through further deliberations and,
thereafter, presented in the Central Board meeting of the CGPB as Agenda items.
The agenda items are discussed in the CGPB meeting, and included as field
season item of GSI based on merit.
Till
Now, 54 CGPB meetings have been held, the last one being held on 5-6 February
2015 New Delhi.
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YSK/Uma