Lok Sabha Question No. 1682 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Exploration activities in NE States
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1682 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES IN NE STATES

## 1682.   SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Mineral exploration activities in North Eastern States specially in Assam are put on hold which is causing bad impact on development of the region;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether is it true that many mineral blocks are non-operational due to non clearance from environment and forest department;
- (d) if so, whether any steps have been taken to simplify Clearance Process to expedite the operations at mine blocks and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  details  of  all  Mineral  mine  blocks  in  NE  States  specially  in  Assam,  state-wise  and location-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): No, Sir.  Geological Survey of India [GSI], an attached office of Ministry of Mines, has prioritized mineral exploration keeping in view of the thrust given by Government of India and accordingly GSI is conducting G2/G3/G4 stage mineral exploration for various mineral commodities  with  an  aim  to  augment  mineral  resource  in  different  parts  of  the  country including North Eastern States (NER).

During the ensuing Field Season 2021-22, 16 nos. of mineral exploration projects have been taken up by GSI in NER and particularly in the state of Assam, two exploration projects have been taken and all projects are being executed without any hindrance.

- (c) & (d): As per the information available with Directorate of Geology and Mining, Assam, Govt. of Assam, the State Mines and Minerals Department has continuously been sitting for discussions with the State Environment and Forest Department to speed up the environment clearances. Since the constitution of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority as the competent authority for issuing Environment Clearance Certificate, the process for the same has been considerably simplified and now, the process has become faster.
- (e): In practice, the resource bearing G2/G3 reports are being handed over to the concerned State Governments for auctioning of mineral concession.

During  last  five  years,  (2016-17  to  2020-21)  GSI  has  carried  out  a  total  of  113  nos.  of mineral exploration projects for various commodities under different stages (G2/G3/G4/RMT) in different parts of NER.

Since  Field  Season  2015-16  and  after  amendment  of  MMDR  Act,  2015,  the  following  23 resource bearing G2/G3 reports of GSI, on various mineral commodities in parts of NER, have  been  handed  over  to  the  concerned  State  Governments  for  consideration  in  the auctioning process:

|   SL No | State     | District     | Name of the block   | Commodity   | Stage of exploration   |
|---------|-----------|--------------|---------------------|-------------|------------------------|
|       1 | Meghalaya | Jaintia Hill | Jalaphet Block      | Limestone   | G2                     |
|       2 | Meghalaya | Jaintia Hill | Um-Maju Block       | Limestone   | G2                     |
|       3 | Meghalaya | Jaintia Hill | Shyrwang Block      | Limestone   | G2                     |

|   4. | Meghalaya         | East Khasi hills            | West Ishamati block                         | Limestone   | G2   |
|------|-------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------|-------------|------|
|    5 | Meghalaya         | Jaintia Hill                | North of Larket block, west of Litang River | Limestone   | G2   |
|    6 | Meghalaya         | Jaintia Hill                | Shnongrim- Molasngi block                   | Limestone   | G2   |
|    7 | Meghalaya         | Jaintia Hill                | Tongseng- Shnongrim block                   | Limestone   | G2   |
|    8 | Meghalaya         | Jaintia Hill                | Mynthning block                             | Limestone   | G2   |
|    9 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | Samasi-Pala block                           | Limestone   | G3   |
|   10 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | Umkyrpong area Litang Valley                | Limestone   | G3   |
|   11 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | East of Laphet area, Litang Valley          | Limestone   | G3   |
|   12 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | South of Akshe area Litang Valley           | Limestone   | G3   |
|   13 | Assam             | Nagaon&KarbiAnglong         | Silpata-Bamuni- Chapanala-Borhola Block     | Glass sand  | G3   |
|   14 | Assam             | Dhubri (erstwhile Goalpara) | Chandardinga area                           | Iron ore    | G3   |
|   15 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | Akshe block, Litang Valley                  | Limestone   | G3   |
|   16 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | South east of Akshe, Litang Valley          | Limestone   | G3   |
|   17 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | North Pala block, Litang Valley             | Limestone   | G3   |
|   18 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | Lamarsiang block                            | Limestone   | G2   |
|   19 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | Khaidong- Shnongrim block                   | Limestone   | G2   |
|   20 | Meghalaya         | East Jaintia Hills          | South west of Mynthlu block                 | Limestone   | G2   |
|   21 | Assam             | Dima hasao                  | North Boro Hundong Block                    | Limestone   | G3   |
|   22 | Arunachal Pradesh | West Siang                  | Tai-Tacidoni block                          | Graphite    | G3   |
|   23 | Arunachal Pradesh | Upper Subansiri             | Taliha Block                                | Graphite    | G3   |

Recently, following the MEMC Rule 2021 (Amended MMDR Act 2021), GSI has handed over the  following  2  potential  Geological  Memorandums  pertaining  to  NER  for  auctioning  as composite licence:

|   Sl. No. | State             | District      | Name of blocks (Geological Memorandum)   |   No of Blocks | Commodity   |
|-----------|-------------------|---------------|------------------------------------------|----------------|-------------|
|         1 | Arunachal Pradesh | Dibang Valley | NER_ARN_01_Endolin- Isholin_II           |              1 | Graphite    |
|         2 | Assam             | Dima Hasao    | NER_AS_01_Boro Hundong_II                |              1 | Limestone   |

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