Lok Sabha Question No. 1406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-09
Subject: Exploration of Minerals by GSI
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1406 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH  MARCH, 2017

## EXPLORATION  OF MINERALS BY GSI

## 1406 .  SHRI OM BIRLA :

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is 575,000 square kilometers of land with geological potential has been explored, if so, the details and facts thereof ;
- (b) the exploration carried out by Geological Survey of India (GSI) during the last three years for  Gold and the progress achieved as a result of the  same , Statewise ; and
- (c) the quantum of  funds allocated, released and utilized for carrying out exploration activities in the country, State /mineral -wise?

## A  N   S  W  E  R

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

- (a):    Geological Survey of India [GSI] has covered almost the entire area of 31.4 1:50,000 scale. On  the basis of this, the geological potential area of 5.71 lakh sq. km.  (Obvious Geological Potential) has been identified for scheduled minerals except non -coal fuel minerals . Further,  GSI  has launched National Geochemical Mapping (NGCM) and National Geophysical Mapping (NGPM) programs. Of the identified  obvious  geological potential area, GSI has covered 3.17 lakh sq km and 1.9 lakh sq km by NGCM and NGPM respectively. Private and public mi neral exploration agencies launch mineral exploration programmes based on the above baseline data.
- Madhya
- (b):   During the last three years GSI has carried out gold exploration work in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Arunac hal Pradesh. As a result of the exploration work of GSI, 9.8 million tonnes of gold resources w ere established in the state of Rajasthan (6.78 mt), Jharkhand (2 mt) and

Karnataka (1.02 mt) durin g the field seasons 2012 -13, 2013 -14 and 2014 -15.

- (c):   The details of funds allocated and utilized by GSI for mineral exploration activities in the country during the last three years (up to January 2017) is given below:

(Rupees in lakhs)

| Region           | 2014 -15   | 2014 -15        | 2015 -16   | 2015 -16      | 2016 -17      | 2016 -17      |
|------------------|------------|-----------------|------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Region           | Allocation | Actual Expend . | Allocation | Actual Expend | Allocation    | Actual Expend |
| Western          | 347.60     | 347.36          | 296.50     | 296.00        | 977.00        | 830.04        |
| Eastern          | 353.45     | 353.30          | 603.72     | 600.47        | 1210.00       | 1020.08       |
| Northern         | 84.50      | 82.92           | 117.50     | 115.22        | 321.50        | 235.58        |
| Southern         | 309.00     | 307.76          | 548.84     | 555.15        | 1043.50       | 715.65        |
| Central          | 605.45     | 605.31          | 424.95     | 415.61        | 675.00 675.00 | 522.54 522.54 |
| North - eastern  | 73.00      | 71.77           | 164.47     | 207.04        | 130.00        | 109.94        |
| GSI (As a whole) | 1773.00    | 1768.42         | 2155.98    | 2189.49       | 4357.00       | 3433.83       |

Western Region:    Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Eastern Region:    West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.

Northern Region:    Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand , Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh

and

Jammu & Kashmir.

Southern Region:    Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala.

Central Region:    Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Northeastern

Region:      Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland,

Manipur,

Mizoram and Tripura.

The details of funds allocated and utilized by MECL f or mineral exploration activities in the country during the last three years and current year is given below:

(Rs. in  lakhs)

| YEAR    | EXPENDITURE    | EXPENDITURE   | STATES IN WHICH WORK DONE                                                            |
|---------|----------------|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         | Fund Allocated | Fund Utilized |                                                                                      |
| 2013 14 | 900            | 900           | Rajasthan, Nagaland, Karnataka, Jharkhand & Meghalaya                                |
| 2014 15 | 1100           | 1100          | Rajasthan, Nagaland, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra   |
| 2015 16 | 1500           | 1500          | Rajasthan, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu |
| 2016 17 | 415            | 415           | Rajasthan, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu                            |

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