(a) whether large amount of Bauxite is present in Kusami, Samri, Metpat, areas of Sarguja district in the State of Chhattisgarh;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if so, whether the Government has any plan to set up an aluminium industry in this area;
(d) If so, the details thereof;
(e) If not, the reasons therefor;
(f) whether the setting up of an industry will help in employment generation in the area; and
(g) If so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINES (SHRI DINSHA PATEL)
(a)&(b): As per information received from Indian Bureau of Mines(IBM), the total reserves of bauxite in Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh is estimated to be 22.43 million tonnes, which includes 12.87 million tonnes in Mainpat and 7.42 million tonnes in Jamirapat.
(c) : No, Madam.
(d): Does not arise.
(e): An alumina refinery with a viable capacity of 1 million tonne per annum will require around 75 million tonnes of bauxite reserve, considering 25 years of economic operation. As per information available, most of the available bauxite deposits in Sarguja District are already leased out. The balance reserves are not viable for setting up an alumina refinery.
(f) & (g): Does not arise.