Using technology to solve the resources puzzle

Managing the natural resources of a nation is not an easy task. More often than not, the efforts to utilise them foster conflict, as in many cases searching for minerals involves cutting forests or digging hills. But what if, the search for such minerals would not be as damaging? What if there was a way to pin-point precise location of availability of resource, thereby curtailing collateral damage?

This was an interesting thought that came up for discussion during the recently held Global Natural Resources Conclave, organised by Network 18 and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi. The conclave, the first-of-its-kind in India, was aimed at providing a global platform to discuss the challenges, opportunities and potential of India's natural resources.

The issue was specifically brought forth on the second day of the event, when Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, spoke at the event. He spoke at length on how technology could be used to bring about a sustainable solution to mine minerals. The government reportedly is aerially mapping 800,000 square kilometres of area with geological potential to scout for natural resources and transform it into a business opportunity for India’s growth story. This is the first time that the aerial mapping of this scale is being done in the country to find out the geological potential of its underground products (UGPs).

“We have determined around 800,000 square kilometres with obvious geological potential - the UGP areas. Shortly, aerial mapping will begin and over the next two-and-a-half years, we hope to complete the process. The entire 800,000 square kilometres of India’s geological potential area will be mapped aerially to get a fair idea of the locations which can be further explored,” stated Goyal.