Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Opens National Landslide Forecasting Centre in Kolkata
Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) in Kolkata on Friday. The centre aims to provide advanced landslide forecasts, enabling state governments and district administrations to take the necessary precautions.
Speaking at the event, Reddy said, “On the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this National Landslide Forecasting Centre has been inaugurated today by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Landslides cause major accidents in different places in the country like Uttarakhand and innocent people lose their lives.”
He added, “Through this centre, we will be able to tell in advance to the state government, district administration, and NGOs if there is a possibility of a landslide and we can ask them to stay alert and take precautions.”
The Union Minister emphasized that while landslides cannot be prevented, the loss of lives can be. “Landslides cannot be stopped, but the loss of lives due to the accident can be prevented. Properties can be saved and the state government and district administration can take precautions in the coming days.”
Earlier in the day, the minister visited the Geological Survey of India campus. The visit commenced at the Central Headquarters (CHQ) campus, where the minister was welcomed by Director General, GSI, Shri Janardan Prasad. The minister chaired a review meeting to assess the ongoing activities and achievements of GSI. During this meeting, he underscored GSI’s pivotal role in baseline data generation, augmenting the mineral resources of the country and policies, particularly focusing on landslides, and congratulated the officers for their tireless efforts in advancing geological studies and mineral exploration.
GSI has significantly expanded from its initial focus on coal exploration to include mapping rock types, geological structures, and exploring strategic and critical minerals. Notably, the number of exploration programs for critical minerals has increased from 127 last year to 196 out of a total of 450 exploration programs this year. The successful launch of the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) and the migration of the OCBIS portal to the OCI cloud are testaments to GSI’s commitment to innovation and efficiency.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a person who is in charge of a specific department in the government of India. They help make important decisions for the country.
G. Kishan Reddy -: G. Kishan Reddy is a politician in India who works as the Union Minister of Coal and Mines. He helps manage the country’s coal and mining activities.
National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) -: The National Landslide Forecasting Centre is a place where scientists study and predict landslides. This helps warn people in advance to keep them safe.
Kolkata -: Kolkata is a big city in India, located in the state of West Bengal. It is known for its rich culture and history.
Landslide -: A landslide is when a large amount of earth, rocks, or debris falls down a slope. It can be dangerous and cause damage to buildings and roads.
Geological Survey of India (GSI) -: The Geological Survey of India is an organization that studies the earth, including rocks, minerals, and natural resources. They help understand and manage the land better.
State governments -: State governments are the governing bodies of individual states in India. They make decisions and manage resources within their own state.
District administrations -: District administrations are local government offices that manage smaller areas within a state. They help implement policies and provide services to the people in their district.
