Applications
Non-availability of Geological Maps: the bane of Indian Geology
S. V. Srikantia
Honorary SecretarY of Geological Society of India.
gsocind@bgl.vsnl.net.in
Considering that GSI has excellent mapping tradition and has covered large areas from Kanyakumari to Karakorum and the quality of work can rival the best in the world, it is frustrating to find that very few maps of these areas have been published. It is equally disheartening to workers who carried out mapping in these difficult and inhospitable terrain, for not seeing their maps in print.
During 1993 the Geological Society of India published comments from readers regarding non-availability and lack of publications of geological maps in India. The position has not improved much. The non-availability of geological maps continues to affect the dissemination of vital scientific information to earth scientists of India and the world and to user agencies of the country. As a field geologist with three decades of mapping experience, I feel the agony of not seeing these maps in print and the consequent denial of this information to fellow earth scientists.
In India, as in any part of the world, geological mapping is carried out on topographical maps of various scales like 1" = 4 mile, 1" = 1 mile. Or 1:25000, 1: 50,000 and 1: 2,50,000 scales. In all developed countries these topographical maps are sold in bookshops, tobacco shops, railway stations and other public outlets. However, in India the purchase of these maps calls for a detailed procedure. The Survey of India, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is the agency, which is responsible for publishing these topographical maps. It stocks and sells these toposheets after ascertaining whether they are restricted or not. The Survey of India (SOI) has stamped all the coastal sectors, the areas bordering the international boundary and the whole of J& K and northeast as Restricted. For obtaining these toposheets an elaborate procedure is adopted. Even for purchasing the non-restricted toposheets, one has to go to survey of India sales offices where sometimes only poorly photocopies are made available and generally maps are out of stock. This was the experience when the writer went to sales office in Chandigarh in July 1993.
This practice of restricting the toposheets, particularly in this age of satellite photography and remote sensing, seems to me illogical and meaningless. Why has this aspect not dawned on SOI and defense authorities? An ordinary Indian citizen does not know where the border of his country is located on the ground while all foreign tourists who come to India bring satellite imagery based maps which depict all details with greatest accuracy possible. Some of the imagery have as high a resolution as 7 metre and less where as the restricted toposheets convey much less information.
The study of topographical maps is essential for every citizen of the country. From tourist to scientist, everyone requires toposheets. These toposheets should be de-restricted, printed in large numbers on good quality paper and sold in all book and stationary shops. In tune with the liberalization spirit, the private map publishing companies may be allowed to print and market the toposheets.
The lack of easy availability of toposheets, particularly the restricted ones, has retarded the progress of ones, has retarded the progress of geological work in all Universities and allied organisations. Only scientists of government organisations can obtain these maps and only these organisations can hope to publish geological maps. Therefore, the first hurdle in the publication of geological maps is the non-availability of toposheets and also restricting the same for coastal and other border areas. This has to be removed forthwith and the spirit of liberalisation should be extended to the SOI and Defence authorities.