Explore minerals using modern technology: Secretary P. Dayanand

Raipur. The 23rd meeting of the State Level Geological Program Board Chhattisgarh was held today in the mini conference hall of Civil Line Vishram Bhavan in the capital Raipur under the chairmanship of Secretary of Mineral Resources Department, Mr. P. Dayanand. In the meeting, Secretary Mr. P. Dayanand said that minerals play an important role in the development of any country and state. For the establishment of new mineral based industries in Chhattisgarh, various minerals present in the state should be explored in a continuous and systematic manner.

He told all the departments and institutions associated with the exploration work present in the meeting that for the overall development of Chhattisgarh, they should explore the minerals found in the state using their skills, resources and the latest available technologies. He has advised to share the data produced among the agencies working for the development of minerals in Chhattisgarh and establish mutual coordination. Shri P. Dayanand informed that in the year 2023-24, mineral revenue of about Rs 13000 crore has been received, which is about 30 times more than the year of establishment of the state.

Secretary of the Mineral Department, Shri P. Dayanand reviewed the geological work done in the year 2023-24 by the departments and institutions of the Central and State Government working in the field of mineral exploration and mineral exploitation in the state. During the review, the achievements of the work done in the year 2023-24 were discussed and the geological work proposed in the year 2024-25 for the exploration of minerals found in the state was finalized. Representatives of various departments and undertakings of the Central and State Government including Director of Geology and Mining Department, Shri Sunil Kumar Jain were present in the meeting.

New reserves of limestone and iron ore discovered in the state

Giving information about the work done in the year 2023-24, Director of Geology and Mining Department, Mr. Jain said that this year a total of 1050 million tonnes of limestone and a total of 179 million tonnes of iron ore reserves were estimated.

The Ministry of Mines, Government of India has approved 01 exploration project for limestone in the year 2023-24 under NMET in Chhattisgarh. Three proposals were approved to the notified private exploration institute for exploration work of the state under NMET. Which includes two graphite and one rare earth metals (REE).

Representatives of various departments and undertakings of the Central and State Government also gave presentations on the information of mineral exploration work done in the state of Chhattisgarh. Dr. Sudeep Bhattacharya, Deputy Director General, Geological Survey of India, said that survey work has been done for bauxite, gold, copper, glauconite, graphite, base metal, diamond, lithium, REE, PGE, phosphorite, fluorite minerals in various districts of Chhattisgarh. Work is being taken on a total of 25 projects of various minerals in the year 2024-25.

Joint Director (Geology) Sanjay Kanakne said that a total of 12 exploration projects were approved for survey-prospecting work in the year 2024-25 by the Directorate of Geology and Mining, Chhattisgarh. Which includes 01 project on manganese, 01 on graphite, 03 on limestone, 05 on iron ore and 02 on bauxite. Two proposals have been approved by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, to the private exploration institute notified in the year 2024-25 under NMET in Chhattisgarh for exploration work in the state. Which includes 01 proposal of Lithium and 01 of Graphite.

Similarly, in the year 2024-25, a total of 44 projects of 10 different minerals were approved for exploration-prospecting work in the state by various institutions. Which includes 02 of Phosphorite, 05 of Gold, 06 of Gluconite, 11 of REE (Lithium, Tantalum etc.), 01 of Lead-Zinc, 01 of Phosphate, 05 of Bauxite, 09 of Iron Ore, 02 of Copper, 01 of Graphite and 01 Exploration-Prospecting Project of Lithium.