Date | June 27, 2017:
The State Mineral Resources Department would seek services of NABL accredited mineral testing laboratories for the analysis of the different elements of the bauxite ore in Chhattisgarh, officials informed.
The State Mineral Resources Department will also be carrying out more detailed exploration of different Bauxite mining blocks in Chhattisgarh.
The department would soon get prepared an Exploration Report alongwith a Prefeasibility Report.
Notably, Chhattisgarh is also among 19 States in the country where the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has proposed to take up aerogeophysical survey to explore new mineral blocks.
In the first phase, it has been proposed that, reconnaissance aerogeophysical survey will be completed with magnetometer and gravity sensors and in the second phase, high resolution airborne survey will be carried out over potential mineral zones identified from the reconnaissance survey.
A total of 8.13 lakh square kilometers of geological potential area in the country would be explored through outsourcing.
The potential area for aerogeophysical survey covers parts of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Goa, Haryana, Sikkim and Assam. The data generated through aerogeophysical survey will be shared with the concerned States for taking up further exploration works.
The Central Government has established the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) on August 14, 2015. The NMET has a Governing Body chaired by the Union Minister In-charge of Ministry of Mines and an Executive Committee chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Mines.
The primary objective of the NMET is to promote regional and detailed mineral exploration in the country to increase overall mineral production and achieve sustainable development of the mineral sector.
GSI will also be making an assessment of bauxite ore deposits existing in Damchun block of Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh.
Notably, Chhattisgarh accounted for 6.07 per cent of the total bauxiteproduction in the country in 2013-14, as per the annual report of the Union Ministry of Mines.
Gujarat had the maximum 32.41 per cent share in bauxite production while Jharkhand had 10.53 percent share and Maharashtra had 9.51 per cent share.The remaining bauxite production was reported from Goa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it stated.
Incidentally, the total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during June 2015 was Rs 18,194 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 6,662 crore (37%).
Next in the order of importance were— petroleum (crude) Rs 5,636 crore, iron ore Rs 1847 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs 2,164 crore, lignite Rs 516 crore, and limestone Rs 490 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in June 2015.
Moreover, Chhattisgarh had 7.48 per cent share in total value of mineral production in the country during 2014-15, according to the annual report of the Union Ministry of Mines .
As per the report, Rajasthan had share of 11.49 per cent, Gujarat (8.85 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (8.25 per cent), Chhattisgarh (7.48 per cent) followed by Jharkhand (7.37 per cent), Odisha (6.38 per cent), Maharashtra (5.35 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (4.70 per cent), West Bengal (4.32 per cent), Assam (4.04 per cent), Karnataka (2.96 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (2.72 per cent).
The remaining States and Union Territories having individual share of less than 2.5 per cent all together accounted for remaining of total value of mineral production during the year under review, the report stated.
State-wise analysis revealed that during 2014-15, the value of mineral production have shown a mixed trend as compared to the previous year.
The States which have indicated an increase in the value of mineral production are -- Tripura (14.3 per cent), Karnataka (1.6 per cent), Bihar (6.6 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (16.5 per cent), Mehgalaya (61.6 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (0.8 per cent) and Chhattisgarh (0.7 per cent).
During 2014-15, mineral production was reported from 33 States and Union Territories which is actual reporting from Mineral Conservation and Development Rules ( MCDR) and fuel minerals from 23 States and estimation of minor minerals for all the 32 States and Union Territories of which the bulk of value of mineral production of about 94.18 per cent was confined to 13 states (including off shore areas) only, it stated.
Chhattisgarh is among seven States that had informed the Union Secretary, Mines early this month about 11 mines identified for e-auctioning during the remaining part of year 2017-18, a Ministry of Mines press release informed.
These include four Bauxite and seven Limestone blocks in Chhattisgarh.
Notably, Union Secretary, Mines, Arun Kumar chaired a meeting of the Coordination- Cum- Empowered Committee (CCEC) of the major mineral producing States in New Delhi early this month.
Representatives from 17 States were present in the meeting. The discussion mainly focussed on the States’ preparedness for e-auction of mineral blocks for 2017-18.
Kumar while addressing the CCEC meeting asked the States to expedite and monitor the auctions, as recently a large number of leases have elapsed due to the section 10A(2)(c) of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act 1957, which should now come up for auction route only.
He further said that as a large number of merchant mining leases will come up for auction on March 31, 2020, the States need to prepare their plans in advance latest by September this year and share it with Mines Ministry so that production slack can be met and the supply of essential minerals and iron ore remain smooth.
He said, the auctions conducted so far will fetch Rs 85250 crores to States of which the additional contribution due to auction is Rs 67,501 crores over the licence period of 50 years. Just 4 States constitute 90 % of this takeaway and other states need to expedite their mining auctions.
Meanwhile it may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) intends to sell iron ore produced from the proposed Aridongri mine in Kanker district of Bastar to steel / sponge iron units at Bhilai, Raipur and Raigarh on priority basis, officials informed.
Efforts are being made to increase the production so that sufficient quantity of iron ore is available for export after meeting the requirements of the expanding home market. Export of iron ore is necessary for earning the much needed foreign exchange, they informed.
The mining at Aridongri will be carried out by opencast mechanized method. The mining equipment required will be dozer, shovel/hydraulic excavator, dumpers, wagon drill. The project area is located near Kachhe village on Dalli-Rajhara-Bhanupratappur road.
It is also accessible by Dhamtari-Bhanupratappur road. The nearest railway station is Dalli-Rajhara situated about 30 km north from the area. Aridongri area is well connected with District Headquarter Kanker (Uttar Baster) by metalled road. The nearest airport is at Raipur.
Notably, CMDC is seeking environmental clearance for Aridongri iron ore project in 245 hectares of land falling under Bhaupratappur forest division of Kanker district in Bastar.
Notably, CMDC had completed exploration and preparation of geological report for Aridongri and Kabirdham iron ore projects, officials here stated.
Significantly, in the month of May 2015, Chief Minister Raman Singh had stated that minerals extracted in Chhattisgarh should be used for units located in the State on a priority basis. This will boost revenue collections and also increase job opportunities while addressing the 9th meeting of Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Fund Advisory Committee.
The meeting was organised by State Mineral Resources Department in which the Chief Minister was informed about various projects underway to explore minerals in the State.
The Chief Minister had emphasized the decision to undertake mineral prospecting work by Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) in the meeting.
Officials informed that in the 2015-16 fiscal, Bauxite exploration works were being undertaken in Pandariya Tahsil of Kabirdham and Murtunda of Surguja district.
Likewise, Bauxite prospecting is going on in Bamhtara village of Bodla Tehsil of Kabirdham district.
The Bauxite exploration work will be undertaken in Bhursipakri and Mukam of the same Tehsil. Both the projects were sanctioned during the meeting.
It was also informed that for effective management of minerals a web-based e-governance application ‘Chhattisgarh Integrated Mines and Mineral Management System’ is being developed.
This application will be used to receive requests for various relaxations on minerals and timely disposal of applications.
The application will be helpful in providing e-permit, e-transit pass monitoring unified check post and weighing bridges along with checking of illegal mining.
It was also informed that district mineral foundations have been made in those districts where certain minerals are found.
These foundations will carry on road construction, health and environment development and the development required at the local level.
The Directorate of Geology & Mining in Chhattisgarh had been the process of carrying out iron ore exploration in the notified areas of Kanker and Narayanpur districts of Bastar division.
The exploration target is for the 12th plan period (2012-17) and is being carried out in Rowghat and 10 other localities, officials stated.
The Chhattisgarh Government had targetted to carry out survey and mapping for 1,000 square kms of State’s area during 2015-16 for geological exploration during the 12th five year plan ( 2012-17).
The minerals to be explored as Bauxite, Limestone, Iron ore, Coal, Dolomite, Manganese and Granite, officials stated.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Directorate of Geology & Mining had been engaged in exploration of mineral resources as well as minerals development and regulation work in the State.
(Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/)