Lok Sabha Question No. 331 (STARRED), answered on 2016-12-08
Subject: Exploration of Mineral Resources
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, ANANDRAO  ADSUL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*331 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 th  DECEMBER, 2016

## EXPLORATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES

## *331.  SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether exploration has remained largely untapped in the country with only 10%  of  the  8  lakh  square  km.  area  explored  so  far  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has drawn up plans to carry out exploration work in the potential non-coal and non-fuel resource-bearing areas in the country;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the funds  proposed  to  be  spent on exploration work in said areas;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  floated  global  tenders  inviting  expressions  of interest for carrying out geophysical exploration and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the resources from where funds are to be generated for exploration work?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINES, POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION NO.331  REGARDING  EXPLORATION  OF  MINERAL  RESOURCES  ASKED  BY SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV AND SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL FOR ANSWER ON 08 TH  DECEMBER 2016

(a)  to  (c):  GSI  has  covered  the  entire  31.4  lakh  sq  km  of  the  country's  mappable area  by  systematic  geological  mapping  on  1:50,000  scale  on  the  basis  of  which Obvious Geological Potential [OGP] area of about 8 lakh sq. km has been identified. Of the identified OGP area, GSI has covered 3.17 lakh sq. km. and 1.9 lakh sq. km. by National Geochemical Mapping and National Geophysical Mapping respectively. Further, for accelerating exploration especially targeting deep-seated and concealed mineral  deposits  over  the  obvious  geological  potential  areas,  the  National  Mineral Exploration  Policy  [NMEP]  has  been  approved  by  the  Government  in  July,  2016. The NMEP is available on the website of Ministry of Mines (http://mines.nic.in/writereaddata/Content/NMEP.pdf).  The  NMEP  proposes,  interalia,  to  attract  private  exploration  agencies  through  revenue  sharing  mechanism, carry out aerogeophysical mapping of the country, make available baseline data free of cost as public good, collate and share data of various exploration agencies. The amount estimated for implementing NMEP in the next five years is about Rs.2116 crore.  This  is  proposed  to  be  funded  from  the  regular  annual  budget  of  the Geological  Survey  of  India  (GSI),  an  attached  office  of  Ministry  of  Mines,  and additional funds from National Mineral Exploration Trust and budgetary support by the Central Government.

(d) & (e): GSI has initiated a National Aerogeophysical Mapping Program over the Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) areas covering an area of about 8 lakh sq. km for  acquiring  the  baseline  magnetic  and  spectrometric  data.  This  project  with  an estimated cost of ₹352 crore will be funded through the National Mineral Exploration Trust  and  is  planned  to  be  completed  by  2019.  The  project  aims  at,  inter  alia, identifying targets for concealed and deep seated mineral deposits.  By April 2017, survey over an area of about 2.05 lakh sq. km is planned to be carried out for which GSI  has  floated  global  tender  notice  for  engaging  Service  Provider(s) at  an estimated cost of ₹90 crore for carrying out multisensory aerogeophysical surveys.

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