Since inception, GSI as a scientific organization and with a well-defined charter of functions, gathered huge data through its regular field season programmes (FSP). These data have been disseminated in the form of reports/maps and as departmental publications for use in mineral, industrial and engineering sector for overall economic development of the country.
However, following the liberalized economic and industrial scenario and with the announcement of New Mineral Policy and amendment of MMDR Act during 1993, the role of GSI has undergone a change from the role of the main exploratory agency to that of a facilitator in the mineral development and energy sectors as well as in the geotechnical and engineering geology sectors.
Though the department traditionally generated a certain amount of resources (following the approved SOC of the department which was revised from time to time in 1975, 1981, 1992 & 2001) through sale of reports, maps, publications, geotechnical programmes, testing gems and analyzing samples, it did not take part in any commercial venture outright. The revenue thus generated is deposited in the consolidated fund of the Government of India. The basic approach was to take up the programme in National interest. However, with changing national policies and perceptions, GSI thought of reorienting its priorities and devote serious attention to resource generation. Consequently, since 1993 GSI continues to cater to the needs of both national and multinational investors by undertaking sponsored projects and making available data products in the form of project reports, maps, customized data packages and laboratory services. In the process GSI is generating a small part of its budget through Internal Resource Generation (IRG).
Consultancy activities of GSI are mostly incorporated in the following fields:-
Providing technical consultancy to the prospective investors both national and multinational on different commodities, through interactions, seminars and on field visits.
Mineral exploration (including coal, lignite and CBM exploration).
Marine Surveys.
Geophysical (both airborne & ground) surveys.
Geotechnical projects, including recently introduced Preliminary Feasibility Reports.
Geoenvironmental projects.
Publication and map production and sale of maps/publications.
Sale of unpublished reports.
Laboratory services including testing of gems.
GSI is committed to make available all the geoscientific data/reports at a nominal cost. Accordingly, the process of pricing of GSI reports is continuing on priority basis. A catalogue containing the price of 3676 numbers of reports have been published for wide dissemination to interested parties.
So far two hundred and twelve numbers of high valued unpublished reports worth Rs.3,01,80,995/- have been sold to user agencies and GSI provided 63 numbers of E1/E2 stages of exploration reports worth Rs.1,93,09,08/- on deferred payment to M/s MECL.
Besides, GSI also caters to the request of the potential investors in the field of mineral industries by way of preparing customized data packages for them at a nominal cost for planning their projects. For example, customized report on PGE investigations in Baula-Nausali area, Orissa were provided to M/s ONGC Ltd., M/s FACOR & M/s IMFA for their respective leasehold areas.
Customized reports on Potash investigation in North western Rajasthan was also provided to M/s ONGC.
On request from Central Electrical Authority (CEA) 157 numbers of Preliminary Feasibility Reports (PFRs) for proposed Hydroelectric Schemes amounting Rs.50,99,062/- has been carried out and the report has been submitted to concerned authorities.
Schedule of Costs for different segments of activity were revised and rationalized during 2001. A number of requests have been received by the department with regards to sponsored projects from outside countries, especially from African states. Attempts are on to formulate Schedule of Costs in terms of foreign currencies, mainly in US dollars.
Catalogue of prices of unpublished reports/maps/data, guidelines in respect of sale of unpublished reports/maps/data and guidelines related to consultation of unpublished reports/maps/data at Central Headquarters and other regional Headquarters and other guidelines in respect of Technical consultancy related subjects are being processed.
Initiatives have already been taken to update the existing GID/DID and also to prepare the GID/DID of certain new commodities which did not exist earlier. This will help in dissemination of recent data to the prospective entrepreneurs. As on today updated version of DIDs on major commodity like diamond, graphite, bauxite, iron, manganese, Ni-cobalt are in final stage of publication.
In order to facilitate more technical services to prospective entrepreneurs, the price of GSI reports is likely to be farther rationalized. The reports containing recommendations for rationalization of the price of GSI unpublished progress reports is presently under scrutiny of Ministry of Finance (MOF).
To cater to the needs of the investors a large number of Laboratory services has been listed in the SOC, 2001. In addition to that few more laboratory services were introduced for the investors such as petrological analysis per hour by SEM/EDX at Rs.1089, petrographic study by using Leicia DMRX HC POL Microscope at a cost of Rs. 778, Photomicrograph of polished section using Leica DMRX HC POL Microscope per sample at Rs.321 and determination of Sonic velocity testing (P-value) for one sample at Rs.21,117 (all prices exclusive of 10% Service tax and 0.2% Education cess).
Since most of the parties are interested in acquiring digitized maps/data and since GSI is one of the nine organizations, other than SOI & MOD, permitted to carry out digitization of maps and data but not allowed to disseminate the end product, Ministry of Defence has been approached in this regard and MOD has agreed to work on the modalities to simplify the dissemination of digitized data and maps for wide circulation.
GSI has augmented its efforts in bagging a number of sponsored/commercial projects and almost one hundred and twenty numbers of sponsored/projects were undertaken / being undertaken through concluding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with several PSUs and Govt. agencies during the last decade. Few important sponsors are Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), Port Trust of India, namely at Kolkata (West Bengal), Kandla (Gujarat), Visakhapatnam & Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), TAMIN, CMPDIL, RITES, NEEPCO, APMDC Ltd., DG Hydrocarbons, HZL, CMDA, CIT, NLC, NMDC, WAPCOS, ASI and many others.
Some of the most important sponsored/commercial projects undertaken by GSI are as follows: -
Molybdenum investigation in Harur dist. for TAMIN.
Promotional drilling for CMPDIL.
Data package on Coal-bed Methane in various coal fields of India for DG Hydrocarbons.
Marine Survey for ONGC as well as Port Trust of India.
Geotechnical survey in Punatgsangchu H.E. Project in Bhutan for M/s WAPCOS.
Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental appraisal for preservation of Ajanta, Ellora, Bhimbetka and other ancient monuments for ASI.
Geological, Geotechnical studies in Jaitpura area of Ratnagiri dist., Maharashtra for Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC).
Ground Geophysical Survey on selected blocks of Chitradurga R.P. area for NMDC.
Resource appraisal aided by drilling (1000 m) in Sargipalli area, Orissa for M/s HZL.
Geotechnical investigation for Jamuna Rajasthan Link Canal Project for National Water Development Authority (NWDA).
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