State Geological Programming Board (SGPB) held its 32nd meeting, Tuesday here at the conference hall of geology and mining (G & M) office, Dimapur.

Secretary to the government of Nagaland, department of geology and mining and sericulture, Bendang Longchari (IAS) was the chairman.

In the introductory speech, director, DGM, H.K. Chishi said with full support and guidance from various central and state government departments and other professional organizations, the department has made significant progress in the field of mineral exploration and developmental activities.

Chishi then said the department also diversified its activities towards geo-technical and geo-environmental studies, seismic and earthquake monitoring activities, building materials, ground water resource and artificial recharge through rain water harvesting etc.

Citing major minerals like oil, coal, limestone, nickel, cobalt bearing magnetite, marble and varieties of dimension stone and clay were also in developmental stage, Chishi said the state’s economy could be uplifted through exploitation of these resources which were to be developed and managed scientifically using newer and advanced technology.

The meeting proposed for field season programme 2012-13, first phase of detail exploration and economic feasibility studies of marble deposit of moke with a target of two bore holes (300 mts) and first phase of detail exploration magnetite deposites at Ziphu, Washello/Laluri for enhancing the magnetite reserve in the state (300 mts) at Phek district; implementation of operation rural landslide mitigation for control of landslides with a public/private participation (PPP), identification and collection of data with geo-references of all stone quarries, sand-boulders, coal quarrying and mining sites, monitoring, field works, GOS recording of oil bearing villages demarcation of oil blocks etc and implementation minor mineral concession rule at the state; creating marketing policy and setting up of coal stock yard at Tuli, Changki, Bhandari and Shetap (3 no.’s) at Mokokchung, Wokha and Longleng districts.

Earlier in the meeting, report book was released by secretary to the government of Nagaland, department of geology and mining and sericulture, Bendang Longchari (IAS).