(a) the details of closed and abandoned diamond mines in the country;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any exploration study to find out diamond reserves in the country;
(c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(d) whether any steps have been taken for rehabilitation of closed and abandoned diamond mines in the country and if so, the details thereof?
(a): There are no closed and abandoned diamond mines. Panna Diamond mine is only diamond producing mines in the country which is under operation.
(b): Yes Madam. Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of Ministry of Mines, has been conducting exploration of Kimberlite Clan Rocks (KCR) which is the source of diamond.
(c): State-wise and year-wise details of investigation programme taken up by GSI for KCR during the XII Plan period and the details of programmes taken up during Current Field Season 2015-16 are given in Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.
(d): Does not arise in view of the reply given to (a) above.
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Annexure-I & II mentioned in reply to lok sabha unstarred question number 212 for 30.11.2015 regarding closed diamond mines asked by Shri Dushyant Chautala
Annexure-I
Details of investigation programmes taken up by GSI for Kimberlite Clan Rocks during XII Plan period
States Field Season 2012-13 Field Season 2013-14 Field Season 2014-15 Field Season 2015-16
Andhra Pradesh 2 2 3 1
Telengana - - - 3
Karnataka 2 3 2 2
Chhattisgarh 2 3 2 2
Maharashtra 1 - - -
Jharkhand - - 1 1
Grand Total 7 8 8 9
Annexure-II
Details of Programmes taken up during Current Field Season 2015-16
Sl. No. Title of Programmes
1 Search for kimberlite clan rocks in Mahasamund, Balodabazar and Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh.
2 Search for kimberlite clan rocks in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh.
3 Search for Kimberlite/Lamproite in parts of Simdega District, Jharkhand
4 Search for kimberlite/lamproite in Kolhapur and Srirangapur blocks in Mahabubnagar and Kurnool districts, Andhra Pradesh.
5 Investigation for secondary diamond in Munneru-Paleru river basin area in Khammam and Krishna districts of Telengana and Andhra Pradesh
6 Investigation for secondary diamonds in the Pennar river basin between Jammalamadugu Chennur in Cuddapah district, Andhra Pradesh.
7 Research Project for study of Kimberlites and diamonds from Wajrakarur and Narayanpet area, Mahabubnagar, Kurnool districts, Andhra Pradesh and Gulbarga, Raichur districts, Karnataka, Dharwar Craton, India [MoU between GSI and De Beers India Pvt Ltd (DIPL)]
8 Regional survey to locate kimberlites in Kudligi block, Bellary and Chitradurga districts, Karnataka.
9 Regional survey to locate kimberlites in Molakalmuru block, Bellary and Chitradurga districts, Karnataka.