No plans to restructure Geological Survey of India, says government

Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment Vishnu Deo Sai has said that there is no proposal to restructure of Geological Survey of India (GSI) in 12th Five Year Plan.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Sai said that the GSI is equipped with modern machineries and has techniques for carrying out ground, aerial and marine surveys and analyses of rocks and minerals.

He further stated that modernization is a dynamic process which continuously changes with development in new technology and more high precision equipments which are developed through advanced research.

He added that the GSI keeps abreast of these new developments in geo-sciences.

The minister said that during the 11th Five Year Plan period, the Government of India, Ministry of Mines had formed a High Power Committee (HPC) to examine and restructure GSI to make it a world class organization. The HPC recommendations were approved by the Cabinet on 25.10.2011. With the recommendation of HPC, GSI was reorganized and the sanctioned strength of manpower was increased from 11,420 to 12,369. GSI is taking action to fill up the vacancies in a phased manner, which is to be completed by 2018.

He said that steps have been taken by the Government to make GSI a world class organization with cutting edge technology and state-of-the-art equipments. Towards this end Ministry of Mines on 30.6.2009 had formed a Modernization Committee to look into the requirements of technology and equipments for GSI. The Modernization Committee submitted its report in August, 2011 for implementation. GSI is carrying out its modernization according to the projections made in the Modernization Committee Report.