Geotechnical Facility in India inaugurated by Norwegian Minister

The National Geotechnical Facility (NGF) in India was officially inaugurated by high level officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology and Norwegian Minister for Research, Tora Aasland on the 2nd of February 2011.

NGI was represented by its Managing Director, Dr. Suzanne Lacasse and Dr. Rajinder Bhasin during the inauguration event. The Norwegian Embassy in India was represented by Ambassador Ann Ollestad, who accompanied the Norwegin Minister for Research and Higher Education.

From the inauguration of the National Geotechnical Facility (NGF) in India. In front row from left are Norway's Ambassador to India, Ann Ollestad, Norwegian Minister for Research, Tora Aasland and NGI's Managing Director, Dr. Suzanne Lacasse, together with representatives from the Department of Science and Technology in India, The Research Council of Norway and NGI.

The opening of a National Geotechnical Facility (NGF) in India is the result of an extensive cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), supported by The Research Council of Norway . The Norwegian Minister for Research and Higher Education, Tora Aasland, mentioned during the inauguration that "-Creating a national geotechnical facility is important for India and will contribute to its development, especially considering the present and planned major infrastructure projects throughout the country".

NGF has the potential of providing input to the conception, analysis and maintenance of large infrastructure projects, such as hydropower dams, oil and gas installations, and the expansion of rail and road communication links throughout India while protecting the population against the effects of natural hazards. This is the same concept and manner as NGI has done since the 1950's.

The idea of setting up a NGF in India came up when the Indian Science and Technology Minister, Shri Kapil Sibal, visited NGI in Oslo in November 2006. Since then, DST and NGI has kept close contact. NGI has provided strategic and technical assistance for the establishment of the facility, with support from The Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian government. The Norwegian Minister Tora Aasland mentioned that it is very rewarding today to see that this facility for advanced research and advisory services, modelled after NGI and its Centre of Excellence on geohazards, now is a reality.

DST will now seek NGI's assisatance in setting up a geotechnical laboratory. DST and NGI are also cooperating on other projects, including the Mitigation of Natural Hazards in India for sustainable economic development in the country. The "Natural Resource Data Management System" NRDMS division in DST is coordinating this project, where several Indian and Norwegian Institutes participate, including the new NGF. This is in fact part of organized competence transfer programmes established between the two countries.

During the inauguration event Tore Aasland also presented NGI's "Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)" to DST, in appreciation of its excellent cooperation with many Norwegian organizations. She wished DST all the best for continued and fruitful technical cooperation with Norway and Norwegian institutions.