Plans and proposals to give a push to research and development marked the opening day of the 43rd annual convention and meeting of the Indian Geophysical Union on “Geophysical techniques in Mineral Exploration and Exploitation” at Central Mining Research Institute (CMRI) today.

The chief guest of the three-day event, T. Ramasami, also the secretary of the department of science and technology of the Government of India, dwelt at length about the recent government plans to bring in a huge pool of talent from among the younger generation into research work with an assurance of sufficient money and career opportunities.

It would speed up the laggard pace of development of science and technology, he said. In the connection, Ramasami had a word of praise for the students of Jharkhand who are performing well at the national level.

The district administration of Dhanbad, meanwhile, proposed before the gathering of scientists and government officers, a socio-economically viable measure to tackle the raging issue of smouldering Jharia coalfield and also handling the deteriorating geological situation posing a threat to the huge population of Jharia.

Taking note of the present situation and the concerns of the coalfield, Ramasami said: “The coalfield has played an important role in building the economy of the country.

“We shall make a serious effort to exploit properly the resources available here and keep an eye on the value earned for the society in the future. It would be a part of the social contract of scientists,” he said.

Speaking on the department of science and technology, Ramasami said it is a research-funding body for laboratories in the country and is engaged, at present, in making policy plans to rejuvenate its processes and prepare fresh minds for research activities.

Deputy commissioner of Dhanbad Beela Rajesh, the director of the Indian School of Mines (ISM), T. Kumar, president of the geophysical union and director of National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) V.P. Dimri, secretary of the union and NGRI scientist B. Rajendra Prasad and director of the CMRI-cum-chairman of the local organising committee Amalendu Sinha were also present during the inauguration ceremony.