Lok Sabha Question No. 3091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-04
Subject: Exploration of Land for Mining Activities
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3091 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  AUGUST, 2016

## EXPLORATION OF LAND FOR MINING ACTIVITIES

## 3091.  SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that only about 13% of the country's 575,000 square kilometers of land with geological potential has been explored, if so, the details and facts thereof;
- (b) the state-wise exploration carried out by Geological Survey of India (GSI) during the last three years for gold and the resultant progress achieved in the same; and
- (c) the  details  of  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilized  for  carrying  out  exploration activities in the country, State-wise?

## A  N   S  W  E  R

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

(a): Geological Survey of India [GSI] has covered almost the entire area of 31.4 lakh sq. km. of the country's mappable area by systematic geological mapping on 1:50,000 scale. On the basis of this, the geological potential area of 5.71 lakh sq. km. has been identified  for  scheduled  non-fuel  and  non-coal  major  minerals.  Further,  GSI  has launched National Geochemical Mapping (NGCM) and National Geophysical Mapping (NGPM) programs.  Of  the  identified  geological  potential  area,  GSI  has  covered  3.17 lakh sq km and 1.9 lakh sq km by NGCM and NGPM respectively. Private and public mineral  exploration  agencies  launch  mineral  exploration  programmes  based  on  the above baseline data.

(b): During  the  last  three  years  GSI  has  carried  out  gold  exploration  work  in  the states  of  Rajasthan,  Bihar,  Jharkhand,  Odisha,  Maharashtra,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. As a result of the exploration work of GSI, 9.8 million tonnes of gold resources were established in the state of Rajasthan (6.78 mt), Jharkhand (2 mt) and Karnataka (1.02 mt) during the field seasons 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15.

- (c): The details of funds allocated and utilized by GSI for mineral exploration activities in the country during the last three years is given below:

(Rupees in lakhs)

|                  | 2013-14   | 2013-14        | 2014-15   | 2014-15        | 2015-16   | 2015-16        |
|------------------|-----------|----------------|-----------|----------------|-----------|----------------|
| Region           | Grant     | Actual Expend. | Grant     | Actual Expend. | Grant     | Actual Expend. |
| Western          | 249.10    | 248.41         | 347.60    | 347.36         | 296.50    | 296.00         |
| Eastern          | 203.50    | 203.56         | 353.45    | 353.30         | 603.72    | 600.47         |
| Northern         | 47.00     | 46.75          | 84.50     | 82.92          | 117.50    | 115.22         |
| Southern         | 266.50    | 266.46         | 309.00    | 307.76         | 548.84    | 555.15         |
| Central          | 233.90    | 233.63         | 605.45    | 605.31         | 424.95    | 415.61         |
| Northeastern     | 50.00     | 49.22          | 73.00     | 71.77          | 164.47    | 207.04         |
| GSI (As a whole) | 1050.00   | 1048.03        | 1773.00   | 1768.42        | 2155.98   | 2189.49        |

Western Region:

Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Eastern Region:

West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.

Northern Region:

Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

Southern Region:

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala.

Central Region:

Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Northeastern

Region:

Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

The  details  of  funds  allocated  and  utilized  by  MECL  for  mineral  exploration activities in the country during the last three years is given below:

(Rupees in Lakhs)

| YEAR    | EXPENDITURE    | EXPENDITURE   | STATES IN WHICH WORK DONE                                                            |
|---------|----------------|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         | Fund allocated | Fund Utilised |                                                                                      |
| 2013-14 | 900            | 900           | Rajasthan, Nagaland, Karnataka, Jharkhand & Meghalaya                                |
| 2014-15 | 1600           | 1600          | Rajasthan, Nagaland, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra   |
| 2015-16 | 1690           | 1690          | Rajasthan, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu |

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