Ministry of Mines 14-February, 2007 18:1 IST
Shri Ola Gives away National Mineral Awards - 2005

MINISTER CALLS FOR LOCATING DEEP SEATED MINERALS & DEVELOPING STATE-OF-ART TECHNOLOGIES

The National Mineral Awards instituted by the Ministry of Mines were given away by the Minister of Mines Shri  Sis Ram Ola for the year 2005, here today to outstanding geoscientists, technologists and mining engineers for their extraordinary achievements and special contributions in the field of fundamental or applied geosciences, mining and allied disciplines.  Congratulating the winners, Shri Ola called upon young geo-scientists, mining engineers and technologists to look into various aspects of locating concealed and deep seated mineral deposits.  He emphasized the need for developing state-of-art technologies for using low grade ores and mineral waste for value addition, which will go a long way in sustainable mineral development in order to make country self reliant.

 

             Shri Ola further said that there appears a strong need to reorient our priorities and strategy.  With the rise in demand of the society, globalization and economic liberalization, changes in demand pattern for non-renewal resources and National Mineral Policy, a number of Indian as well as foreign companies have shown keen interest in investing in the field of mineral exploration, mining and value addition, Shri Ola added.

 

            Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy, Minister of State for Mines lauded the role of our scientists, technocrats, engineers who are contributing phenomenally in the field of geophysics, geochemistry, disaster management, environment geosciences and mining discoveries and explorations.  He called upon the scientists of mineral sciences to make an effort for bridging  the gap between India and the developed countries by discovering the huge potential of minerals that are available in the country.  He further stated that in the development of Indian economy, mining sector plays a very important role.  It contributes 2.6% to the country’s GDP, i.e. around Rs.75000 crore.   He said that even though GSI has identified probable minerals to the tune of 18.5 sq.km. in the country, we have to make serious attempts on war footing to realize the same.  Dr. Reddy also stated that 90% of diamonds that are used all over the world are processed in India.   He mentioned that we have identified about 450 m carat diamonds and urged the scientists to make efforts to avoid imports and earn wealth for the country.  Dr. Reddy also urged the scientists to find technological solutions to calamities like earthquake, tsunami etc.

 

            Shri  J.P. Singh, Secretary, Mines emphasized that his Ministry is fully geared to play a pro-active role in exploring and producing more minerals, adding value and also in earning more foreign exchange for the country.   He added  that over the years Indian Mining Sector has established itself as an important segment of the Indian economy.  In pre-independence period,  mineral production was only 0.56% of GDP.  As of now, India produces as many as 90 minerals. The total value of country’s production (mining & quarrying) excluding atomic minerals, but including minor minerals during 2005-06 touched an impressive figure of Rs. 75,121 crore, which constitutes around 2.04% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

 

            As many as 23 eminent geoscientists, engineers and technologists received National Mineral Award for the year 2005 and 1 geoscientist received award for the year 2003.  With this, so far, 538

 

 

geoscientists, engineers and technologists have been conferred this award since its inception in 1966.  Besides a galaxy  of  eminent geoscientists and engineers, Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Special  Secretary, Ministry of Mines was also present on the occasion. 

 

Following is the list of awardees:

 

S.No.

Awardee

Field of Specialization

Organisation

1.

Dr. Kameswara Rao Tadicheria

Mineral Discovery

Geological Survey of India

2.

Shri Vakalapudi Srinivasa Chowdary

Mineral Discovery

Geological Survey of India

3.

Shri Sridhar Mondreti

Mineral Discovery

Geological Survey of India

4.

Shri Reddy Suryanarayana Nalabolu

Mineral Discovery

Geological Survey of India

5.

Shri Krishan Kant Sinha

Mineral Discovery

Geological Survey of India

6.

Shri Ram Lal Jat

Mineral Exploration

Geological Survey of India

7.

Shri D.B. Guha

Mineral Exploration

Geological Survey of India

8.

Shri Surendra Singh Garhia

Mineral Exploration

Geological Survey of India

9.

Dr. Pijush Pal Roy

Mining Technology

Central Mining Research Institute

10.

Shri Raghavan Pattathil

Mineral Beneficiation

Regional Research Laboratory, Trivandrum

11.

Shri Biswajit Mishra

Geology

IIT, Kharagpur

12.

Shri Hari Bahadur Srivastava

Geology

Banaras Hindu University

13.

Shri Rohtash Kumar

Geology

Wadia Institute of Himalyan Geology

14.

Shri Sumit Kumar Ghosh

Geology

Wadia Institute of Himalyan Geology

15.

Shri Satish J. Sangode

Geology

Wadia Institute of Himalyan Geology

16.

Dr. Shailesh Nayak

Applied Geology

Indian Space Research Organisation

17.

Dr. N. Sundararajan

Applied Geophysics

Osmania University

18.

Shri N.V. Chalapathi Rao

Geochemistry

Indian Bureau of Mines

19.

Dr. Govind Joseph Chakrapani

Environmental  Geosciences

IIT, Roorkee

20.

Dr. Imtiyaz Ahmed Parvez

Disaster Management

C-MMACS, Bangalore

21.

Shri Abhey Ram Bansal

Ocean Development

National Geophysical Research Institute

22.

Shri Lehmbar Singh

Oil & Natural Gas

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation

23.

Dr. Kalachand Sain

Oil & Natural Gas

National Geophysical Research Institute

 

National Mineral Award – 2003

1.

Shri Bhupendra Singh

Mineral Exploration

Geological Survey of India

 

 

RCJ/ls


(Release ID :24806)