The Silver Jubilee Conference Geotechnica 2007 on Geotechnical Engineering Experiences and Practices was organized during 18 -19 May 2007 at CSMRS by Indian Geotechnical Society, Delhi Chapter in association with Central Soil and Materials Research Station. The two days conference was inaugurated by Shri S. K. Das, Chairman, Central Water Commission and presided over by the IGS President Er. Mahavir Bidasaria.

The first set of annual awards for excellence in Geotechnical Engineering to recognize the contribution of the members of IGS Delhi Chapter for promotion and practice of geotechnical engineering initiated in 2006 has been given to the following persons.

• IGS Delhi Chapter lifetime achievement award – Dr. A. K. Dhawan, Director, CSMRS


• IGS Delhi Chapter Leadership Award – Dr. Rajbal Singh, Joint Director, CSMRS

In commemoration of the 25 years of dedicated service to geotechnical fraternity by various office bearers of the IGS Delhi chapter’s, the past Chairmen and Honorary Secretaries who are the key functionaries were felicitated.

The two days conference has been divided into seven different sessions and each session were conducted by specially invited Chairmen and Co-Chairmen.

A total of 56 technical papers falling under the following themes were published in the conference proceeding and presented in the conference.

• Geotechnical Investigation and Interpretation


• Geotechnical Solutions for Disaster Management


• Rock Engineering


• Dams and Embankments


• Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering


• Landslides and Slope Stability


• Geoenvironmental Engineering


• Geotechnical Issues in and around Delhi

A total of 14 invited lectures were delivered by various experts from different fields of Geotechnical Engineering. The details are as under.

• Geotechnical Challenges in Hydro Development, Mr. R. Jeyaseelan, Ex Chairman, Central Water Commission.


• Anchored RCC Diaphragm Wall Coffer Dam for Bisalpur Dam – A Case Study, Er. Mahavir Bidasaria, President, IGS, India.


• Forensic Investigations of Geotechnical Problems – A Case Study, Dr.V.V.S. Rao, Nagadi Consultants, New Delhi


• Innovative Applications of Geotechnical Engineering Practices on Recent Road Projects, Mr. Sudhir Mathur, Head, Geotechnical Engineering Division, Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi


• Slope Stability Aspects of Waste Fills, Dr. Manoj Datta, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi


• Tomorrows Geotechnologies, Mr. S. P. Sen, Director (Technical), National Hydroelectric Power corporation Limited


• Lackadaisical  Approach and Absence of Finesse  in Geotechnical Practice of Landslide Management in India, Dr. R. K. Bhandari, Chairman, Centre for Disasaster Mitigation and Management, VIT University


• Model for Seismic Hazard & Risk Microzonation – Illustration from Jabalpur & Proposals for Delhi, Dr. P. S. Mishra


• Experiences of DDA in the Master Plan Delhi 2021, Mr. Sekhar De, Chief Engineer, Delhi Development Authority, New Delhi


• Landslides and protection works, Dr. G. Narayanan, Chief Administrative Officer(Con), South Eastern Railway (Construction Organization), Kolkata


• Shear Strength Behavior of Delhi Silt and Applications to Boundary Value Problems, Dr. K. G. Sharma, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi


• Geological Challenges in Dam Construction, Mr. S. K. Sibal, Director CMDD (E&NE), Central Water Commission.


• Adverse Geological Occurrence in Hydropower Projects with Remedial Measures Undertaken - Case Studies From India & Nepal, Mr. Dibya Raj Pant, Chief Geologist, Parbati Hydroelectric Project Stage III, H. P., Larsen & Toubro Limited


• Applications of geomorphological mapping to site investigations, Mr. Robert Goldsmith, Manager (Geotechnical), SMEC India Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon

A total of 200 delegates attended the conference. The concluding session was chaired by Er. M. Gopalakrishnan, ICID, New Delhi. After the conference, several delegates have sent congratulatory messages.