Lok Sabha Question No. 1653 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-20
Subject: Geological Reports on Mineral Blocks
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1653 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2018

## GEOLOGICAL REPORTS ON MINERAL BLOCKS

1653.  SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Geological Survey of India is likely to provide geological reports of  18 mineral blocks to concerned States by  the end  of December, 2018 and  of 13 more mines by the end of next year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  auction  100  mineral  blocks  in  the  current financial year; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINES AND COAL (SHRI HARIBHAI PARTHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  &  (b):  Geological  Survey  of  India  (GSI),  an  attached  office  of  Ministry  of  Mines  is finalizing detailed mineral exploration reports for handing over a total of 18 mineral blocks to  the  concerned  State  Governments  by  February,  2019.  The  mineral  and  State-wise details of these 18 reports, is as follows:

| Mineral   |   No. of Reports | State                                                 |
|-----------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Iron Ore  |                4 | Madhya Pradesh (1), Odisha (3)                        |
| Manganese |                1 | Odisha (1)                                            |
| Gold      |                2 | Karnataka (2)                                         |
| Copper    |                6 | Haryana (2) Rajasthan (1) Rajasthan (2) Rajasthan (1) |
| Bauxite   |                2 | Chhattisgarh (1) Kerala (1)                           |
| Limestone |                3 | Chhattisgarh (1) Karnataka (1) Karnataka (1)          |

During its  current  field  season  2018-19,  GSI  has  taken  up  14  mineral  exploration items at detailed exploration stage. The geological reports of these items will be generated after conclusion of the investigations and subsequently after completion of the investigations,  the  number  of  resource  bearing  mineral  blocks  to  be  handed  over  to  the State Governments gets finalized.

(c) & (d) : As per the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 and  the  Rules  framed  there  under,  the  State  Governments  are  devolved  upon  the responsibility to carry out auction of mineral blocks in accordance with the prescribed law. As per the information provided by the State Governments, during the current financial year 2018-19, 18 blocks have been auctioned and 105 mineral blocks are proposed to be put on auction. The State-wise details of these mineral blocks are as follows:

| S. No   | State          | Mineral Blocks auctioned so far           | Mineral Blocks put up on auction/ proposed to be put up on auction                                |
|---------|----------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh | 2 - (1 Limestone, 1 Gold)                 | -                                                                                                 |
| 2       | Chhattisgarh   | -                                         | 11 - (6 Bauxite, 5 Limestone)                                                                     |
| 3       | Gujarat        | -                                         | 4 - Limestone                                                                                     |
| 4       | Jharkhand      | 2 - (1 Iron Ore, 1 Graphite)              | 17 - (5 Graphite, 4 Limestone, 3 Bauxite, 2 Emerald, 1 Manganese, 1 Copper, 1 Dolomite/Limestone) |
| 5       | Karnataka      | 7 - Iron Ore                              | 8 - (7 Manganese & Iron Ore, 1 Iron Ore)                                                          |
| 6       | Madhya Pradesh | 5 - (3 Limestone, 1 Iron Ore, 1 Graphite) | 13 - (6 Limestone, 3 Lead-Zinc-Copper, 2 Gold, 1 Bauxite, 1 Manganese)                            |
| 7       | Maharashtra    | 1 - Manganese                             | 13 - (6 Bauxite, 3 Limestone, 2 Copper, 1 Iron Ore, 1 Manganese)                                  |
| 8       | Odisha         | -                                         | 20 - (3 Limestone, 11 Iron Ore, 1 Manganese, 1 Iron Ore & Manganese, 2 Bauxite, 2 Graphite)       |
| 9       | Rajasthan      | 1 - Limestone                             | 16 - (10 Limestone, 5 Copper & 1 Base metal)                                                      |
| 10      | Telangana      | -                                         | 3 - Limestone Blocks                                                                              |
| Total   | Total          | 18 Blocks                                 | 105 Blocks                                                                                        |

*****