Lok Sabha Question No. 5163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Mining in Rajasthan
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †5163

ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

## MINING IN RAJASTHAN

†5163. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the mining policy of the country along with the system in place to implement the same;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to carry out mining in Sivana, Mokalsar and Sindhari areas in Balotra district in Rajasthan State, identified as having reserves of 16  rare  and  precious  minerals  including  Monazite,  Uranium,  Thorium,  Nicodian considered very critical from economic development and strategic demand point of view according to the survey conducted by the Department of Geology;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether minerals reserves have been found during the survey in Barmer district and Jaisalmer under the Barmer Jaisalmer Parliamentary Constituency similarly;
- (f) if so, the details thereof along with the action plan proposed in this regard;
- (g) the details of the policy of gravel mining; and
- (h) the present status of the allocation of mining leases in Barmer Jaisalmer and the progress and plan for starting mining operations along with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a):  Regulation  of  mines  and  mineral  development  to  the  extent  to  which  such regulation and development under the control of the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest falls under the Union Control as per entry no. 54 of List I of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Accordingly, the Central Government has enacted the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).

(b) to (d): The mineral concessions are granted by the respective State Governments in accordance with the provisions of the MMDR Act and the rules made thereunder. As per the information received from Department of Atomic Energy, no such reserves of 16 rare and precious minerals have been identified by the Department in Sivana,

Mokalsar and Sindhari areas in Balotra district in Rajasthan State. Further, Rajasthan Government  has  informed  that  they  have  carried  out  only  preliminary  geological investigation for REE during the year 2019-20 to 2022 -23 which is not sufficient  to establish REE resource in the area.

(e) & (f): As per the information received from the Department of Atomic Energy, the Atomic  Minerals  Directorate  for  Exploration  and  Research  (AMD)  has  taken  up detailed exploration in Siawana Ring Complex in Balotra (erstwhile Barmer) district of Rajasthan. Further, AMD has submitted the geological report of Bhatikhera area in Balotra (erstwhile Barmer) district.

The Geological Survey of India(GSI) has taken up 36 exploration projects for mineral commodities such as REE-RM, phosphorite, limestone, strontium and scandium in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan from Field Season 2021-22 to 2024-25. As an outcome of these exploration programmes, GSI has established resources for limestone in Jaisalmer and resources for REE in Barmer districts of Rajasthan.

Further, the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited has taken up G3 level exploration for  rare  earth  elements  (REE)  in  the  Nauser-Bamni  Dhani-Dandali  Block,  Balotra, Rajasthan.

- (g): Gravel is a minor mineral as per Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act. As per Section 15 of the MMDR Act, the State Governments are empowered  to make rules for regulating the grant of quarry leases, mining leases or other mineral concessions in respect of minor  minerals  and  for  purposes  connected  therewith.  Accordingly,  the  respective States Governments have framed the Minor Mineral Concession Rules. Government of Rajasthan has informed that no gravel mining policy has been implemented in the State and only directions have been issued for sustainable mining.

(h): As per the information provided by the Indian Bureau of Mines, the mineral wise details of the mining leases in Barmer and Jaisalmer Districts of Rajasthan is given below:

| District   | Mineral         |   No. of mines* |
|------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Barmer     | Selenite        |               3 |
| Barmer     | Siliceous Earth |               8 |
| Jaisalmer  | Limestone       |               4 |
| Jaisalmer  | Siliceous Earth |               9 |

* other than atomic, minor and hydrocarbon energy minerals.

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