Lok Sabha Question No. 4252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-11
Subject: Exploration Activities by National Mineral Exploration Trust
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4252 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  AUGUST, 2016

## EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES BY NATIONAL MINERAL

## EXPLORATION TRUST

## 4252.  SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of MINES

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  set  up  National  Mineral  Exploration  Trust  for exploring minerals;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the locations where the said trust has found out minerals while exploration activities during the past one year with the names and quantity of minerals explored;
- (c) whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  explore  minerals  in  Nagpur,  Wardha  and Amrawati in Vidharbha region; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A  N   S  W  E  R

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  MINES,  POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  &  (b):    In  pursuance  of  the  Mines  and  Minerals  (Development  &  Regulation) Amendment  Act  2015,  the  National  Mineral  Exploration  Trust  (NMET)  was  set  up vide gazette notification No. G.S.R. 633 (E) dated 14.8.2015. The National Mineral Exploration Trust Rules 2015 were also notified vide Gazette Notification No. G.S.R. 632 (E) dated 14.8.2015. The amendment Act prescribes payment to the NMET, a sum equivalent to 2% of the royalty paid in terms of the minerals listed in the Second Schedule.  The  prime  objective  of  NMET  is  promoting  mineral  exploration  in  the country.

Proposals  on  mineral  exploration  were  been  invited  from  all  the  States  and  a Technical  Committee  of  experts  was  constituted  to  evaluate  the  proposals.  The Technical  Committee  recommended  13  blocks  in  6  States  for  exploration,  to  the Executive  Committee  of  NMET  for  approval.  The  Executive  Committee  approved exploration in these 13 blocks on 9.5.2016.

Further, the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (MECL), a Public Sector Undertaking  under  Ministry  of  Mines  has  been  declared  as  the  nodal  agency  to execute  the  mineral  exploration  projects  under  NMET.  MECL  has  commenced exploration in 11 blocks.

The State-wise details of these blocks are given below:

|       | State          | Block                                                    | Mineral   |   Estimated Cost (Rs.lakhs) |
|-------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------------------------|
| 1     | Odisha         | (i) Jumka- Pathiriposhi Block, Sundargarh Distt.         | Iron-ore  |                      772.68 |
| 1     | Odisha         | (ii) Purheibahal- Chandiposhi Block, Sundargarh Distt.   | Iron-ore  |                      265.33 |
| 2     | Maharashtra    | (i) Mandri - Panchala Block, Nagpur Distt                | Manganese |                      130.31 |
| 2     | Maharashtra    | (ii) Lanjera- Futala Block, Bhandara Distt.              | Manganese |                      148.98 |
| 3     | Chhattisgarh   | (i) Ranigaon- Gondaiya Block, Bilaspur Distt.            | Limestone |                      100.52 |
| 3     | Chhattisgarh   | (ii) Nahardih- Madhaipur Block, Raipur Distt.            | Limestone |                       27.89 |
| 3     | Chhattisgarh   | (iii) Sendurkhar Block, Kabirdham (Kawardha) Distt.      | Bauxite   |                       45.13 |
| 3     | Chhattisgarh   | (iv) Saraipani- Dadar Block, Kabirdham (Kawardha) Distt. | Bauxite   |                       44.66 |
| 4     | Madhya Pradesh | (i) Ghunchihai Block, SatnaDistt.                        | Limestone |                       57.75 |
| 4     | Madhya Pradesh | (ii) Jamodi- Mahanna Block, Satna Distt.                 | Limestone |                       59.49 |
| 4     | Madhya Pradesh | (iii) Naubasta- Kolard Block, Satna Distt.               | Limestone |                       65.36 |
| 5     | Karnataka      | G.R. Halli South Block, ChitradurgaDistt.                | Gold      |                      443.2  |
| Total | Total          | Total                                                    | Total     |                     2161.3  |

(c) & (d): Two mineral exploration projects on manganese ore have been initiated by MECL in the Nagpur and Bhandara districts of Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra. The Mandri  -  Panchala  Block  in  Nagpur  district  covers  an  area  of  2.5  sq.km.  The Lanjera- Futala Block in Bhandara district covers an area of 8 sq km.

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