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“ROLE OF GEOLOGY IN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL INDIA- A RETROSPECTIVE AND POTENTIAL”
Economy of India is mainly based on
agriculture. However, mineral resources of our country have played a major
and significant role in the industrialization and development of the nation
in general and society in particular. Central India is richly endowed with
huge reserves of various mineral resources such as iron, coal, manganese,
copper, bauxite, limestone etc. The economic development of this part of our
country depends upon the optimum exploration and exploitation strategy of
these mineral resources and their proper utilization for the mankind.
In order to update the knowledge base on
Central Indian Geology and its role in the development, a national symposium
was organized by the Post Graduate Department of Geology, Rashtrasant
Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University at Nagpur on 27th & 28th
December 2006. The symposium was a part of Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of
the P.G. Department of Geology, which has completed sixty glorious years of
its existence. This national symposium was organized for appraisal of the
achievements so far and to identify the futuristic approach in the
development aspects.
Inaugural Function
Prof. D.B. Yedekar, a
distinguished geoscientist and Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Swami Ramanand
Teerth Marthwada University, Nanded was Chief Guest of the function. The
Guest of Honour for this function was Dr. AK. Lomas, CMD, Mineral
Exploration Corporation Ltd Nagpur. Dr. S.N. Pathan, Hon’ble
Vice-Chancellor of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, presided
over the function. On this occasion abstract and souvenir volumes were
released.
Earlier, Dr. A.M. Pophare, Head,
P.G. Department of Geology and Organizing Secretary of the symposium
welcomed the dignitaries and delivered the introductory remarks about the
Department and the present symposium. He gave the details of eight
(including the present one) seminar/symposia organized jointly or singly by
the P.G. Department of Geology. The Gondwana Geological Society, Nagpur and
the Department have jointly organized five national symposiums covering
vivid topics in geology. These include Deccan Flood Basalts (May, 1996);
Mineral & Ground Water Potential of Vidharbha (December, 1996); Control of
Fluorosis (September, 1998); Quaternary of India (February, 1999);
Precambrian Geology and Mineral Resources Modelling (October, 2003). The
South Asian Association of Economic Geologists (SAAEG), Nagpur Chapter and
the Department have jointly organized a national work shop on Minearl
Deposit Modelling in February 2005. The Department has singly organized the
XVIII Indian Colloquium on Micropalaeontology in January 2002 and the
present symposium on the Role of Geology in the Development of Central
India- A Retrospective & Potential in December 2006.
Prof. D.B. Yedekar in his
address stressed the need for co-operation amongst the geoscientists towards
the development of the country. He emphasized the requirement of proper
management of mineral and ground water resources along with serious look
towards the disaster management and engineering projects. Dr. S.S. Deshmukh,
Retd. Director, GSI, Nagpur and Convener of the symposium gave the details
of the huge mineral wealth and ground water potential of Central India and
the need to organize such symposia and workshops periodically.
Dr. S.N. Pathan, Hon’ble
Vice-Chancellor of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur
congratulated the Head of the Department for organizing the symposium on
such a grand scale and expressed that the geoscientist gathered here will
come forward with some concrete accomplishments to boost the economy of our
country, in general and Central India, in particular.
Technical Sessions
About 150 delegates from various
geoscience organizations and academic institutes have attended the
symposium. Out of the total 76 papers received, 66 were accepted for
presentation. However, only 43 papers were presented in the six technical
sessions spread over two days.
The first technical session on
‘Crustal Evolution and Magmatism’ was chaired by Dr. D.B.Sikka, President,
Mira Exploration, Canada with Dr. A.M. Pophare as rapporteur. Total six
presentations were made in this highly debated session, including the
keynote address by Prof D.B. Yedekar on the tectonic evolution of Central
Indian Pre-Cambrian Shield. The other speakers were Dr. S.P. Singh, Dr.
Deepanker Asthana, K.Sashidharan, Rahul Banerjee and Prashant Dhote. This
session highlighted new information on the tectonic evolution, geochemistry
and geochronology of the Central Indian Craton.
The second technical session on
‘Geology, Petrology and Geochemistry’ was chaired by Prof. D.B. Yedekar with
K.Sashidharan as rapporteur. Total six papers were presented in this
session, including the keynote address by Prof. C.E. Nehru of City
University, New York, U.S.A. on the relationship of Chilpi Group of rocks
with the Malanjkhand granitoids. The other presentations were by J.N.
Solanki, D.S. Jeere, A.R. Mukhopadhyay, S.A. Meshram and S.N. Meshram. This
session provided new data on the mafic-ultara mafic suites of Bundhelkhand
and Bastar Craton.
The third technical session on
‘Geochemistry, Mineral & Energy Resources’ was chaired by Dr. M.K. Roy,
Regional Director, AMD, Nagpur with Rahul Banerjee as rapporteur. Total six
papers were presented in this session, including the keynote address by Shri
K.G. Bhoskar, Sr. DDG (Retd.) GSI, on the mineral potential of Sakoli Fold
Belt. The other speakers were S.N. Upadhye, P.K.Raut, R.S.Yadava, R.L.Katley
and Prof. K.K. Sappal from Curtin University, Australia. This session
provided wealth of data on economic potential of polymetalic mineralization
and coal resources of Central India.
The fourth technical session on
‘Ground Water Development and Environmental Geology’ was chaired by
Dr.U.L.Pitale, Retd. Director, GSI with Abhay M. Varade as rapporteur. Total
ten papers were presented in this session, including the keynote address by
Prof. A.S. Dave on fresh water supply and its management. The other
presentations were by Prem Babu, Dr. K. Lokesh, Dr. D.B. Malpe, Dr. K.C.
Shah, Ms. Nayusha Sathvane, Dr. S. M. Deshpande, Dr. D. Dhar, Pandith
Madnure and Ms. Reena Banerjee. This session alarmed about the growing
environmental pollution of the ground water resources and the need to take
corrective measures for its improvement.
The fifth technical session on
‘Mineral Exploration and Mineral Economics’ was chaired by Prof. C.E. Nehru
with Dr. H.N. Sinha as rapporteur. Total six deliberations were made in this
session, including the keynote address by Dr. Geetha Ranganatha of MECL on
the use of information technology in mineral exploration. The other
presenters were M.S.M. Deshpande, B.V.L. Kumar, C.L. Pitale, P.K.Jain and R.
M. Umathey. This session provided details about uranium exploration, mineral
economics and the UNFC system along with the strategy of exploitation and
development of mineral wealth of Central India.
The sixth technical session on
‘Atomic Minerals’ was chaired by Shri K.G. Bhoskar with P.B. Sarolkar as
rapporteur. Total nine presentations were made in this session, including
the keynote address by Dr. M.K. Roy, RD, AMD, Nagpur on the atomic mineral
resources of Central India and future potential. The other papers were
presented by Shri S.K.Jain, Dr. C. Sarbajna, Dr. Mrs. K. Sobhita, Dr.Yamuna
Singh, A.S. Sachan, R.Gurjar V.Rajagopalan and S. Bagora. This session
provided valuable information on the grade and resources of atomic minerals
of Central India. These deliberations dealt with the delineation of future
areas of prospecting and emphasized that the nuclear energy holds the future
for the prosperous India by 2020.
Concluding Session
The two day hectic deliberations were
followed by a concluding session. This session provided a platform to take
into account the state of affairs and to chart out the course for future
endeavours. For the concluding session Prof. D.B. Yedekar was the chairman
with Dr. P.P. Kundal as rapporteur. This session started with the remarks of
the chairman stating that the outcome of the two day symposium should be
sent to the State as well as Central Govt. for planning and future
development.
The reports of all the six technical
session were read out by the respective chairmans, which is followed by the
comments from the audience. Prof. C.E. Nehru appreciated the abstract volume
and overall management of the symposium. Dr. D.M. Mohabey, Director, GSI,
Nagpur pointed out that the field guide should be prepared for the Central
India. Dr. A.S. Sachan, AMD, Hyderabad congratulated the efforts of the P.G.
Department of Geology for organizing the symposium successfully and
suggested early publication of the symposium volume. Dr. Geetha Ranganathan,
MECL mentioned her concerns about non-inclusion of the themes related to R.S.
& G.I.S. Dr. R.D. Kapaly, Head, School of Earth Sciences, SRTM University,
Nanded suggested to constitute special prize for the best student
presentation.
Convener of the symposium Dr. S.S.
Deshmukh informed that the organizing committee of the symposium has
received about fourty full papers till date, which are being sent for
review. He appealed the august gathering of geoscientist to submit full
papers by the end of February 2007, as the special volume containing full
papers will be published in the couple of months. The session ended with the
vote of thanks by the organizing secretary of the symposium Dr. Anil M.
Pophare.
Report by-
Dr. Anil M. Pophare & Abhay
M. Varade
Post Graduate Department of
Geology
RTM Nagpur University,
Law College Square, Amravati
Road
NAGPUR-440010
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