Lok Sabha Question No. 256 (STARRED), answered on 2018-01-04
Subject: Project Uncover
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY, GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.*256

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.01.2018

## PROJECT UNCOVER

- *256.  SHRI J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY: SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a large deposits of heavy beach minerals were found along the 974 km. Andhra  Pradesh  coastline  during  a  survey  by  the  Geological  Survey  of  India (GSI) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  submitted  a  comprehensive report to the Union Government recently with regard to 160 blocks identified by the agency to facilitate the auction of the areas containing 38.64 million tonnes of minerals and if so, the details and the present status thereof:
- (c) whether GSI surveys using satellite data have found huge deposits of manganese in Vizianagaram, Bauxite in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha and Baryte in  Kadapa district  of  Andhra  Pradesh  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (d) whether GSI has signed a Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) with Geosciences Australia for assistance in this regard and a pilot project under the name 'Project Uncover' has been launched in Bundelkhand area of North India and Kadapa and Dharwad areas of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  MINES,  RURAL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  PANCHAYATI  RAJ (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  of  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.256  FOR  ANSWER  ON  04.01.2018  ASKED  BY SHRI J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY AND SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA REGARDING PROJECT UNCOVER.

(a): Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of Ministry of Mines, has not assessed  the  heavy  beach  minerals  along  the  coastline  of  Andhra  Pradesh. However, GSI has delineated heavy minerals from the offshore regions of Andhra Pradesh  from  water  depths  between  5  and  40  meters(m).  Total  heavy  mineral resource estimated up to 1 m below seabed from Andhra offshore is 53.61 million tonnes based on initial estimation through reconnaissance work. From this mineralized zone, a total of 160 mineral blocks of 1' latitude x 1' longitude size have been delineated. The estimated resource on the basis of reconnaissance survey of these 160 blocks is 38.64 million tonnes. (b):  The Government of Andhra Pradesh has not submitted any report to the Union Government. (c): Satellite data have been used by GSI in the preliminary stage of exploration for manganese in Vizianagaram, Bauxite in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and  Baryte  in  Kadapa  district.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  finding  out  mineral  deposits exclusively based on satellite data is not possible. GSI has carried out exploration for Bauxite deposits on the north coastal area of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Baryte  deposits  in  Cuddapah  and  Manganese  deposits  in Vizianagaram  districts.    A  resource  of  567.80  million  tonnes  of  Bauxite  has  been established in Ananthagiri-Chintalapalli-Saparlagudem and Jeerala area of Vizianagarm  and  Visakhapatnam  districts  in  addition  to  142.0  million  tonnes  of Bauxite in Gurtedu area of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. As  regards  Baryte,  62.0  million  tonnes  of  resource  has  been  established  in Mangampeta, Cuddappah district.  In Vizianagaram district,  15.64 million tonnes of Manganese ore has been established in Kuduru-Garividi and Garbham area. (d): GSI and Geoscience Australia (GA) have signed an Memorandum  of Understanding on Scientific and Technical Cooperation on 1.9.2015. Subsequently, a Terms of Reference has been signed between GSI and GA to run a pilot project under the name 'Project Uncover' for targeting deep-seated and concealed mineral deposits. The Project area covers 620 km. long North Delhi Fold Belt-Bundelkhand transect and 560 km. long Dharwar-Cuddappah transect.

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