By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 16: Curtain came down on the two-day national symposium on ‘Energy and Natural Resources of North-East India with Special Reference to Atomic and Critical Minerals’ at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, on Thursday.
Organised by the Department of Geology, NEHU, the symposium brought together eminent scientists, policymakers, academicians and industry experts to deliberate over sustainable mineral exploration and energy development strategies in the Northeastern region, aligning with India’s vision of self-reliance in critical and atomic minerals.
The two-day event was inaugurated on Wednesday in the presence of chief guest Tenzing Norbu Thongdok, Member of North Eastern Council (NEC), and guests of honour Supriya Kumar Saha, Additional Director General and HoD, Geological Survey of India (GSI)-NER; Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir, ADG and HoD, GSI Central Region and National Museum of the Himalaya–II, Nagpur; and Dr. Thomas L. Tailer, Former Director, United States Earth Science Organisation.
The second day of the symposium featured a series of technical sessions, poster presentations and interactive discussions.
Researchers and experts from across India presented their findings on uranium and rare earth mineralisation, geophysical and geochemical exploration, and sustainable energy solutions.
The keynote address of the first session was delivered by Dinesh V. Ganvir on “Critical and Strategic Minerals: Assessment and Development,” highlighting India’s growing focus on sustainable exploration and mineral security. Subsequent sessions covered a wide range of themes including geoscientific innovations, hydropower potential, and the use of spectral remote sensing for critical mineral exploration.
Renowned scientists such as Dr. Thomas L. Tailer, Dr. Arindam Guha of ISRO, Dr. Joydip Sen of AMD, and Dr. Pankaj Kumar of IUAC, among others, delivered insightful lectures emphasising inter-agency collaboration, technological advancement, and eco-friendly mineral recovery techniques.
The valedictory session concluded with an award ceremony recognising outstanding research contributions. The Best Poster Presentation Award was conferred upon Sagar Kumar of AMD, while Sandipan Das of GSI-NER, Shillong, and Manav Rai of NEHU secured the second and third prizes, respectively.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Devesh Walia, Chairman of the Symposium, extended gratitude to all participants, speakers, and distinguished guests, including scientists from ISRO and BSIP, for their valuable contributions. The event concluded with the felicitation of the organising committee, marking the successful completion of the two-day symposium.
