THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS, SPORTS AND MINES ( SHRI SUKHDEV SINGH DHINDSA)
(a): As per information available, the production of mica
during the last three years is given below:-
(Quantity in Tonnes)
Item 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000
Production Mica (Crude) 1697 1484 1273 Mica (Waste & Scrap) 909 1067 1039
Production estimates of mica are made by the Indian Bureau
of Mines (IBM), a subordinate organisation of the Ministry of
Mines on the basis of the information furnished by the reporting
mines. However, mica is also recovered from secondary sources and
tailings, details of which are not maintained. The statistics on
export of mica include export of mica in all forms. The export of
mica during the years 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 was 47892 MT,
50245 MT and 40890 MT (provisional) respectively. Data regarding
consumption of mica is not maintained centrally.
(b): Yes Sir. There has been a slump in the mica trade on account
of world-wide recessionary conditions.
(c): The main reasons for decline in mica trade are :
(i) sheet
mica, a high value added product has been replaced by products
manufactured from cheaper mica scrap/waste;
(ii) Substitution of
mica and mica products by synthetic products;
(iii) Collapse of
market for mica in erstwhile USSR and other East European
countries.
(d): As per information furnished by Ministry of Commerce,
MITCO(now Mica Division of MMTC) has never been engaged in mining
of mica, hence there is no contribution towards production. As
far as trade is concerned, MITCO`s turnover during the last three
years is Rs.1268 lacs in 1997-98, Rs.1232 lacs in 1998-99 and 1333
lacs in 1999-2000. The number of manpower engaged in MITCO(now
mica division of MMTC) during the last three years is 422 in
1997-98, 407 in 1998-99 and 400 in 1999-2000.
(e): The policy of decanalisation adopted in 1990 had not
achieved its target. The export of decanalised items of mica has
shown a declining trend due to reasons cited at (c) above.
(f): The Ministry of Commerce has initiated steps to get value
added mica based products manufactured for exports and domestic
consumption by asking MMTC to set up and upgrade industrial units
in this field.
