State-owned mining major, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (GMDC) is planning to set up centres of excellence for the stone industry in North Gujarat. The company is also searching for an industry partner to set up an international centre on mining safety and automation, top government official informed on Monday. "The board of directors of the company has decided to set up an international centre on mining safety and automation in Gujarat. Also, at Ambaji in North Gujarat, we are trying to set up centres of excellence for the stone industry, to provide skill enhancement for the youth in the mining sector," said M Sahu, principal secretary, department of industries and mines, Government of Gujarat. North Gujarat is considered to have rich stone reserves, hence the centre of excellence in the region is expected to provide skill enhancement to entrepreneurs and youth in the mining sector. While the international centre on mining safety and automation would bring advanced technologies and methodology of mining. Sahu further maintained that the state government is looking for better exploration practices in mining sector, as well as judicious administration for exploration of mineral reserves in the state.
"We are currently looking for the suitable partner from the industry as well as domestic and international universities for establishing the international centre on mining safety and automation, which will be unique in the country," he added while speaking at an industry seminar in Ahmedabad on Monday. The seminar was in run up forthcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit (VGS).
