(a) whether the Government has notified the Controller General of Indian Bureau of Mines as an Administering Authority for award of exploration licences in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the mineral bearing blocks in offshore areas notified recently, State-wise; and
(d) the details of applications received for such blocks and the number of exploration licences issued during each of the last three years, State-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINES, STEEL AND LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT (SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)
(a) and (b): Appointment of Controller General, Indian Bureau of Mines as the Administering Authority for the purposes of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 was notified in SO 339(E) dated 11.2.2010 in the Gazette of India.
(c): That a total of 63 mineral bearing offshore blocks being available for grant of exploration licence was notified in SO 1341(E) dated 7.6.2010 in the Gazette of India, out of which 37 blocks were in the Arabian Sea and 26 blocks in the Bay of Bengal.
(d): A total of 377 applications were received against the said notification from 53 applicants (details are given in Annexure). Orders for grant of exploration licences were issued to 16 applicants for 62 blocks on 05.04.2011 which, however, have not been executed so far.