Union Minister Inaugurates National Landslide Forecasting Centre in Kolkata

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre in Kolkata. The center aims to provide advanced landslide forecasts, aiding state governments and administrations in taking preventive measures. The move highlights the Geological Survey of India’s role in advancing geological studies and mineral exploration.

Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) in Kolkata, West Bengal, on Friday. The centre aims to provide advanced landslide forecasts to enable state governments and district administrations to take necessary precautions.

Speaking to ANI, Reddy said the center, inaugurated under the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would help preempt accidents caused by landslides. He noted that landslides had caused major accidents in several regions, including Uttarakhand, often resulting in loss of innocent lives. 'Through this centre, we will be able to alert state governments, district administrations, and NGOs about potential landslides, enabling them to stay alert and take precautions,' Reddy remarked.

While the minister emphasized that landslides could not be entirely prevented, he asserted that the resulting loss of lives and property could be minimized. He also visited the Geological Survey of India campus, where he chaired a review meeting to assess the ongoing activities and achievements of GSI. During the meeting, he highlighted GSI's role in generating baseline geological data and augmenting the country's mineral resources. He praised the officers for their dedication to advancing geological studies and mineral exploration.

The press release from the Ministry of Mines noted that GSI has expanded from its initial focus on coal exploration to include mapping rock types, geological structures, and exploring critical minerals. This year, the number of exploration programs for critical minerals increased from 127 to 196 out of a total of 450 programs. The successful launch of the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) and the migration of the OCBIS portal to the OCI cloud underscore GSI's commitment to innovation and efficiency.