Lok Sabha Question No. 3251 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: New Steel Mines
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Sudarshan Bhagat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3251 FOR ANSWER ON 09.08.2023

## NEW STEEL MINES

3251. SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether new steel mines have been found in the country during the recent years; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL

## ANSWER

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a)&(b): For  the production of steel, Iron Ore  is used  as  the raw  material. As per the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 and the Rules framed thereunder, the State Governments are empowered to grant mineral concessions  for  the minerals located  within  their  respective  jurisdiction.  Since  the introduction of auction regime in 2015, Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) has handed over 35 (G2/G3 exploration level) Geological Reports and 37 (G4 exploration level) Geological Memorandums of iron ore to the various State Governments for auction.  The details are given at Annexure I. Further, the list of 10 Iron ore blocks notified for auction by various States is given at Annexure II.

## Annexure I

List of G2/G3 exploration level reports of Iron Ore handed over by GSI/MECL to State Governments since 2015:-

|   S. No. | State     | District                    | Title of the GR                                                                                                                                                                        | Commodity            | Stage of exploration   | Year of handing over   |
|----------|-----------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
|        1 | Assam     | Dhubri (erstwhile Goalpara) | Preliminary exploration for low grade Iron ore in Chandardinga area, Dhubri (erstwhile Goalpara) district, Assam.                                                                      | Iron ore             | G3                     | 06.02.2019             |
|        2 | Jharkhand | West Singhbhum              | Preliminary exploration for manganese ore and iron ore in the gap areas at Karampada east block in West Singhbhum District, Jharkhand.                                                 | Manganese & Iron ore | G3                     | 29.06.2021             |
|        3 | Jharkhand | West Singhbhum              | Preliminary exploration for iron ore and manganese ore in the gap areas at Karampada west block in the West Singhbhum District, Jharkhand.                                             | Iron & Manganese ore | G3                     | 29.06.2021             |
|        4 | Jharkhand | West Singhbhum              | A Report on preliminary exploration for iron ore and manganese ore in the gap areas near Baraiburu in the northwestern part of Horse-shoe syncline, west Singhbhum District, Jharkhand | Iron & Manganese ore | G3                     | 29.06.2021             |
|        5 | Karnataka | Bellary                     | Preliminary exploration for iron ore resource in notified Blocks 4B/ CI16 MMM 2003 of Kumaraswamy Hill Range, Bellary district, Karnataka                                              | Iron ore             | G3                     | 14.12.2017             |
|        6 | Karnataka | Bellary                     | Preliminary exploration for iron ore resource in blocks 13/1 (South) and 6A /CI 16MMM 2003 of Ramanadurga Hill                                                                         | Iron ore             | G3                     | 30.08.2021             |

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|    |                |            | range Bellary District, Karnataka. (G3)                                                                                                                    |          |    |            |
|----|----------------|------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|----|------------|
|  7 | Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior    | Preliminary exploration for Iron ore in Morar Subgroup of Gwalior Group of rocks Motijhil-Akbarpur area covering parts of Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh | Iron ore | G3 | 15.05.2018 |
|  8 | Madhya Pradesh | Tikamgarh  | Final report on general exploration for iron ore in Dhaukan Block Tikamgarh District Madhya Pradesh                                                        | Iron ore | G2 | 15.02.2019 |
|  9 | Madhya Pradesh | Tikamgarh  | General exploration for iron ore in Dhaurra-Urdaurra Block Tikamgarh Distict Madhya                                                                        | Iron ore | G2 | 15.02.2019 |
| 10 | Odisha         | Sundergarh | Pradesh Exploration for iron ore in Mendhamaruni West block, Sundargarh                                                                                    | Iron ore | G2 | 20.06.2018 |
| 11 | Odisha         | Sundergarh | General exploration for iron ore in Kalamang West block (northern part), Sundargarh district,                                                              | Iron ore | G2 | Feb. 2017  |
| 12 | Odisha         | Kendujhar  | General exploration for iron ore in Gandhalpada South- East, Part A, Kendujhar district, Odisha                                                            | Iron ore | G2 | 14.12.2017 |
| 13 | Odisha         | Kendujhar  | General exploration for iron ore in Rengalaberha North-East Block, Kendujhar district, Odisha.                                                             | Iron ore | G2 | 07.11.2017 |
| 14 | Odisha         | Kendujhar  | General exploration for iron ore in Gandhalpada south- east, Part -B, Kendujhar district, Odisha.                                                          | Iron ore | G2 | 15.02.2019 |
| 15 | Odisha         | Kendujhar  | General exploration for iron ore in Rengalaberha north- east extension block, Kendujhar district, Odisha.                                                  | Iron ore | G2 | 15.02.2019 |

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|   16 | Odisha   | Kendujhar   | General exploration for iron ore in Gandhalpada south block, Kendujhar district, Odisha               | Iron ore            | G2   | 15.02.2019   |
|------|----------|-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|------|--------------|
|   17 | Odisha   | Kendujhar   | General exploration for iron ore in Nuagan West Block, Kendujhar district, Odisha                     | Iron ore            | G2   | 15.05.2020   |
|   18 | Odisha   | Sundargarh  | General exploration for iron ore in Jumka - Pathiriposhi West block, Sundargarh district, Odisha      | Iron Ore            | G2   | 09.03.2021   |
|   19 | Odisha   | Sundargarh  | General exploration for iron ore in parts of Kedesala northeast block, Sundargarh district,           | Iron Ore            | G2   | 09.03.2021   |
|   20 | Odisha   | Sundargarh  | Odisha General exploration for iron ore in Alaghat West Block Sundargarhdistrict,                     | Iron Ore            | G2   | 09.03.2021   |
|   21 | Odisha   | Sundargarh  | General exploration for iron ore in Gandhalpada West Block, Kendujhar and Sundargarh district, Odisha | Iron Ore            | G2   | 31.03.2021   |
|   22 | Odisha   | Kendujha    | General exploration for iron ore float in Laupada Block, Kendujhar district, Odisha                   | Float Iron Ore      | G2   | 31.03.2021   |
|   23 | Odisha   | Kendujhar   | Preliminary exploration for iron ore in Kendudihi North Block, Kendujhar District, Odisha             | Iron ore            | G3   | 03.08.2021   |
|   24 | Odisha   | Kendujhar   | General Exploration For Iron Ore In Roida-I Block, Kendujhar District, Odisha                         | Iron Ore            | G2   | 30.09.2021   |
|   25 | Odisha   | Kendujhar   | General exploration for iron and manganese ore in Jajang Block, Kendujhar district, Odisha (G2)       | Iron &Manganese ore | G2   | 24.03.2022   |
|   26 | Odisha   | Kendujhar   | General exploration for iron ore in Putulipani Block, Kendujhar district, Odisha (G-2 stage).         | Iron Ore            | G2   | 12.07.2022   |

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|   27 | Odisha        | Kendujhar          | General exploration for iron and manganese ore in Jalahuri Block, Kendujhar district, Odisha (G2 Stage). M2AFGBM- MEP/NC/ ER/SU- ODS/2020/30602   | Iron & Manganese   | G2   | 12.07.2022   |
|------|---------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|------|--------------|
|   28 | Telangana     | Khammam & Warangal | Investigation for reassessment of iron ores of Bayyaram area, Khammam and Warangal districts, Telangana, India                                    | Iron ore           | G2   | 08.12.2016   |
|   29 | Uttar Pradesh | Sonbhadra          | Preliminary exploration for iron ore in Mahakoshal Group, Block 'A' Bharhari area, Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh                              | Iron ore           | G3   | 29.08.2019   |
|   30 | Jharkhand     | West Singhbhum     | Silpunji Block,                                                                                                                                   | Iron & Manganese   | G3   | Jul-21       |
|   31 | Odisha        | Sundergarh         | Purheibahal- Block,                                                                                                                               | Iron               | G2   | Jul-17       |
|   32 | Odisha        | Sundergarh         | Chandiposhi Block                                                                                                                                 | Iron               | G2   | Jul-17       |
|   33 | Odisha        | Sundergarh         | Jumka- Pathiriposhi Block                                                                                                                         | Iron               | G2   | Feb-19       |
|   34 | Odisha        | Sundergarh         | Malangtoli H Sub Block, Sundergarh dist., Odisha                                                                                                  | Iron               | G3   | 05.03.21     |
|   35 | Karnataka     | Ballari            | BRH Iron Ore Mine (RMML-2010), Ballari district, Karnataka                                                                                        | Iron               | G2   | 31-Mar-22    |

List  of  G4  exploration  level  reports  of  Iron  Ore  handed  over  by  GSI  to  State Governments since 2015:-

|   S. No . | State          | District          |   No of Block s | Name of Blocks with codes (GM)   | Commodity   | Date of Handing Over   |
|-----------|----------------|-------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------|-------------|------------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh | Kadapa & Chittoor |               1 | Lakkamvandlapalle                | Iron Ore    | 12.07.2022             |
|         2 | Andhra Pradesh | Chittoor          |               1 | Shivapuram                       | Iron Ore    | 12.07.2022             |
|         3 | Andhra Pradesh | Kadapa            |               1 | Vaddepalle                       | Iron Ore    | 12.07.2022             |

|   4 | Andhra Pradesh   | Chittoor                        | 1   | SR_AP_10_Krishnapuram_ III                     | Iron               | 24.03.2022   |
|-----|------------------|---------------------------------|-----|------------------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------|
|   5 | Andhra Pradesh   | Chittoor                        | 1   | SR_AP_11_Errakonda_III                         | Iron               | 24.03.2022   |
|   6 | Andhra Pradesh   | Kadapa                          | 1   | SR_AP_09_Letapalle_II                          | Iron               | 23.11.2021   |
|   7 | Andhra Pradesh   | Prakasham                       | 2   | SR_AP_08-Block-1- Lakshmakkapalle              | Iron Ore           | 08.09.2021   |
|   8 | Andhra Pradesh   | Prakasham                       | 2   | SR_AP_08_Block-2- Addanki Varipalem            | Iron Ore           | 08.09.2021   |
|   9 | Andhra Pradesh   | Kadapa                          | 1   | Minnayagaripalle, SR_AP_14_ Minnayagaripalle_V | Iron Ore           | 09.02.2023   |
|  10 | Andhra Pradesh   | Kadapa                          | 1   | Nagayapalle, SR_AP_14_ Nagayapalle_V           | Iron Ore           | 09.02.2023   |
|  11 | Andhra Pradesh   | Kadapa                          | 1   | Pagadalapalle, SR_AP_14_ Pagadalapalle_V       | Iron Ore           | 09.02.2023   |
|  12 | Chhattisgarh     | Kabirdham                       | 1   | CR_CH_09_Block- 1_Godhatola                    | Iron Ore           | 08.09.2021   |
|  13 | Jharkhand        | West Singhbhum                  | 1   | ER_JH_13_ Rajabera East_III                    | Iron               | 24.03.2022   |
|  14 | Jharkhand        | West Singhbhum                  | 2   | ER_JH_06 - Silpunji                            | Iron and manganese | 08.09.2021   |
|  15 | Jharkhand        | West Singhbhum                  | 2   | ER_JH_06 - Merelgara                           | Iron and manganese | 08.09.2021   |
|  16 | Karnataka        | Bellary (Presently Vijayanagar) | 1   | SR_KA_11_Ramanadurga North_II                  | Iron               | 23.11.2021   |
|  17 | Karnataka        | Shimoga                         | 1   | Sanyasikoppa, SR_KA_29_ Sanyasikoppa_V         | Mn, Fe & Co        | 09.02.2023   |
|  18 | Maharashtra      | Sindhudurg                      | 4   | CR_MH_14_Ambadgaon- 1_III                      | Iron ore           | 24.03.2022   |
|  19 | Maharashtra      | Sindhudurg                      |     | CR_MH_14_Matna-2_III                           | Iron ore           | 24.03.2022   |
|  20 | Maharashtra      | Sindhudurg                      |     | CR_MH_14_Tale-3_III                            | Iron ore           | 24.03.2022   |
|  21 | Maharashtra      | Sindhudurg                      |     | CR_MH_14_Vazare-4_III                          | Iron ore           | 24.03.2022   |
|  22 | Maharashtra      | Sindhudurg                      | 3   | CR_MH_13_Ajgaon_II                             | iron (low grade)   | 23.11.2021   |
|  23 | Maharashtra      | Sindhudurg                      | 3   | CR_MH_13_Kondura_II                            | iron (low grade)   | 23.11.2021   |
|  24 | Maharashtra      | Sindhudurg                      | 3   | CR-MH-13-Nanos_II                              | iron (low grade)   | 23.11.2021   |
|  25 | Maharashtra      | Sindhudurg                      | 1   | CR_MH_08-Satarda                               | Iron Ore           | 08.09.2021   |
|  26 | Odisha           | Kendujhar                       | 1   | Madhyapur                                      | Iron ore           | 12.7.2022    |

|   27 | Odisha     | Kendujhar                          |   1 | Pangapashi_Burhipada              | Iron ore             | 12.7.2022   |
|------|------------|------------------------------------|-----|-----------------------------------|----------------------|-------------|
|   28 | Odisha     | Nabarangap ur (previously Koraput) |   1 | ER-OD-09-Hirapur-01_II            | Iron ore             | 23.11.2021  |
|   29 | Odisha     | Mayurbhanj                         |   2 | ER_OD_08_Jashipur-01_II           | Iron ore             | 23.11.2021  |
|   30 | Odisha     | Mayurbhanj                         |   2 | ER_OD_08_Jashipur-02_II           | Iron ore             | 23.11.2021  |
|   31 | Tamil Nadu | Namakkal                           |   3 | SR_TN_07- Pachchudaiyanpalaiyam   | Iron Ore             | 08.09.2021  |
|   32 | Tamil Nadu | Namakkal, Salem                    |   3 | SR_TN_07 - Kariyampatti           | Iron Ore             | 08.09.2021  |
|   33 | Tamil Nadu | Namakkal, Salem                    |   3 | SR_TN_07 - Ulipuram               | Iron Ore             | 08.09.2021  |
|   34 | Telangana  | Karimnagar                         |   3 | SR_TS_02_Kammarikhanp et_III      | Iron ore (Magnetite) | 24.03.2022  |
|   35 | Telangana  | Karimnagar, Peddapalli             |   3 | SR_TS_02_Pattipaka_III            | Iron ore (Magnetite) | 24.03.2022  |
|   36 | Telangana  | Jagtial                            |   3 | SR_TS_02_Maddulapalli_III         | Iron ore (Magnetite) | 24.03.2022  |
|   37 | Telangana  | Jagtial                            |   1 | Gollapalli, SR_TS_04_Gollapalli_V | Iron Ore             | 09.02.2023  |

Annexure II List of Ongoing Notice Inviting Tenders (NITs) for Iron Ore Blocks

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| S. No.         | Block Name                                               | CL/ ML         | Mineral                              | Date of NIT    | Tentative Date of auction   |
|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------------------|
| Karnataka      | Karnataka                                                | Karnataka      | Karnataka                            | Karnataka      | Karnataka                   |
| 1              | Jaisinghpura North Block, Ballari,                       | ML             | Iron Ore                             | 16.05.2023     | August 2023                 |
| Jharkhand      | Jharkhand                                                | Jharkhand      | Jharkhand                            | Jharkhand      | Jharkhand                   |
| 2              | Baraiburu - Tatiba Iron and Manganese Ore Block          | CL             | Iron and Manganese Ore               | 06.05.2023     | August 2023                 |
| 3              | Meralgara- Barabaljori Iron Ore Block                    | ML             | Iron Ore Block                       | 06.05.2023     | August 2023                 |
| Rajasthan      | Rajasthan                                                | Rajasthan      | Rajasthan                            | Rajasthan      | Rajasthan                   |
| 4              | LadiKa Bas Block Tehsil Neemka Thana & District Sikar    | CL             | Iron Ore                             | 07.07.2023     | Aug-Sep 2023                |
| 5              | Kalakota Block Tehsil Neemka Thana & District Sikar      | CL             | Iron Ore                             | 07.07.2023     | Aug-Sep 2023                |
| 6              | Toda Block n/v Toda, Tehsil Neemka Thana, District Sikar | CL             | Iron Ore                             | 07.07.2023     | Aug-Sep 2023                |
| Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh                                           | Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh                       | Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh              |
| 7              | Pindrai Iron Ore Block                                   | ML             | Iron Ore                             | 14.07.2023     | September 2023              |
| 8              | Siluwa and Jhansi Iron Ore Block                         | ML             | Iron Ore                             | 14.07.2023     | September 2023              |
| 9              | Chhatarpur Iron Ore, Manganese Ore and Laterite Block    | CL             | Iron Ore, Manganese Ore and Laterite | 14.07.2023     | September 2023              |
| 10             | Parsili Iron Ore and Dolomite Block                      | CL             | Iron Ore, Dolomite                   | 14.07.2023     | September 2023              |