Lok Sabha Question No. 354 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Exploration of New Mines
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Vijay Baghel, Arun Sao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 354

ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## EXPLORATION OF NEW MINES

†354. SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL: SHRI ARUN SAO:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether new mines are being discovered in the country by the Government for the development of mining activities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise, including Chhattisgarh;
- (c) the details of the development of mining activities in the country during the last five years, State-wise; and
- (d) the steps being taken including the survey of new mines by the Government for the development of mining sector?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) & (b): The development of any mining activity in the country is directly related to the number of potential blocks explored and resource augmented by the exploration agency which further leads to the auction of the blocks.

In  last  five  years,  from  2015-16  onwards,  Geological  Survey  of  India  (GSI,  an attached office under Ministry of Mines) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL, a public sector undertaking under Ministry of Mines) have handed over 143 (GSI-108 and MECL-35) exploration reports (G2/G3) to the State Government. The State-wise summary of the exploration reports handed over by GSI is at Annexure I .

Further, 24 exploration reports of Field Season 2019-20 of GSI have been finalized and  shall  be  handed  over  to  State  Governments.  In  the  current  Field  Season  of 2020-21, GSI has taken a total of 70 G2/G3 exploration programmes all over India covering commodities like Gold, Base Metal, Iron Ore, Manganese, REE, PGE etc. MECL is carrying out exploration for various  mineral  commodities in  28  blocks for Filed Season 2020-21.

- (c): As per the information received from respective State Governments, 105 mineral blocks have been auctioned in the country and a total of 61 mineral blocks are in pipeline for auction. The state-wise details are at Annexure II .
- (d): Same as per the information given in (a) and (b).

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## Annexure I

State-wise summary of exploration reports handed over by GSI to respective States

| S No   | Name of the State   | Total G2/G3 Reports submitted to states by GSI from FS 2015-2019                                                                                                                     | Total G2/G3 Reports submitted to states by MECL from FS 2015-2020                                                                                              |
|--------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1      | Odisha              | 9                                                                                                                                                                                    | 5                                                                                                                                                              |
| 2      | Jharkhand           | 2                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2                                                                                                                                                              |
| 3      | Assam               | 2                                                                                                                                                                                    | -                                                                                                                                                              |
| 4      | Meghalaya           | 15                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1                                                                                                                                                              |
| 5      | Uttar Pradesh       | 4                                                                                                                                                                                    | -                                                                                                                                                              |
| 6      | Haryana             | 5                                                                                                                                                                                    | -                                                                                                                                                              |
| 7      | Rajasthan           | 19                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2                                                                                                                                                              |
| 8      | Chhattisgarh        | 9                                                                                                                                                                                    | 5                                                                                                                                                              |
| 9      | Andhra Pradesh      | 4                                                                                                                                                                                    | -                                                                                                                                                              |
| 10     | Gujarat             | 4                                                                                                                                                                                    | -                                                                                                                                                              |
| 11     | Maharashtra         | 3                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2                                                                                                                                                              |
| 12     | Telangana           | 1                                                                                                                                                                                    | 3                                                                                                                                                              |
| 13     | Tamil Nadu          | 3                                                                                                                                                                                    | 4                                                                                                                                                              |
| 14     | Kerala              | 1                                                                                                                                                                                    | -                                                                                                                                                              |
| 15     | Madhya Pradesh      | 18                                                                                                                                                                                   | 6                                                                                                                                                              |
| 16     | Karnataka           | 9                                                                                                                                                                                    | 5                                                                                                                                                              |
| Total  | Total               | 108 exploration reports (42 limestone, 24 base-metal, 15 iron ore, 6 bauxite, 4 manganese ore, 4 gold, 3 andalusite, 3 glauconite, 2 graphite, 2 REE, 1 potash, 1 PGE, 1 glass sand) | 35 exploration reports (16 limestone, 4 gold, 3 manganese ore, 3 molybdenum, 2 iron ore, 2 copper ore, 1 bauxite, 1 base- metal, 1 potash, 1 tungsten, 1 coal) |

## Annexure II

Mineral  blocks  auctioned  and  mineral  blocks  in  pipeline  for  auction  as  per  the information received from State Governments

| S No   | State          | No. of mineral blocks auctioned                                                                                                                                                 | No. of mineral blocks in pipeline                                                                                                                                  |
|--------|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1      | Andhra Pradesh | 5 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                                | 3 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                   |
| 2      | Chhattisgarh   | 7 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                                | 6 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                   |
| 3      | Gujarat        | 3 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                                | 13 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                  |
| 4      | Jharkhand      | 7 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                                | -                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 5      | Karnataka      | 18 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                               | 3 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                   |
| 6      | Madhya Pradesh | 13 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                               | 7 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                   |
| 7      | Maharashtra    | 13 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                               | 18 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                  |
| 8      | Odisha         | 31 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                               | 11 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                  |
| 9      | Rajasthan      | 8 mineral blocks                                                                                                                                                                | -                                                                                                                                                                  |
|        | Total          | 105 mineral blocks (37 iron ore, 32 limestone, 7 bauxite, 6 iron ore and manganese ore, 6 gold , 5 graphite, 5 manganese ore, 3 chromite ore, 2 copper ore, 2 diamond) 61 e, e, | mineral blocks (22 limestone, 17 bauxite, 10 iron ore, 3 manga nese ore, 3 graphite, 2 copper or 1 base-metal, 1 rock phosphat 1 REE-RM, 1 kyanite & sillima nite) |