(a) whether the Government has given permission to the State Governments to conduct aerial survey for valuable minerals;
(b) if so, the names of the States and districts where survey of minerals is likely to be conducted;
(c) whether some State Governments have sent their proposals to the Central Government;
(d) if so, the names of those States; and
(e) the State-wise details of the targets of funds fixed by the Government for spending on these surveys ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINES ( DR. DASARI NARAYANA RAO )
(a): Yes, Sir. As on date, the Central Government in the Ministry of Mines have accorded its prior approval under Section 5(1) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957) to the grant of 177 Reconnaissance Permits (which inter-alia include aerial surveys) covering a total area of 2,38,165.953 sq. kms to explore the possibilities of reserves for gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, diamond and other associated minerals.
(b): The details of States and districts where prior approval for grant of Reconnaissance Permits (RPs) have been conveyed by the Central Government is annexed.
(c) & (d): Presently 24 proposals from State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat , Karnataka , Maharashtra , Orissa and Uttar Pradesh seeking prior approval under Sec. 5(1) of the MM(D&R) Act, 1957 of the Central Government have been received.
(e) The RPs are granted by the respective State Governments. Only in case of some minerals specified in the First Schedule to the MMDR Act, 1957 prior approval is conveyed by the Central Government. The State-wise details of the targets of the funds for spending on these surveys are not centrally maintained.
ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3617 for 22.12.2004 asked by Shri Narendra Kumar Kushawaha regarding Aerial Survey by States for Valuable Minerals.
Sl.No. Name of State Districts
1. Andhra Pradesh, Kurnool,Anantapur,Prakasam,Cuddapah, Chittor,Nellore,Mahaboobnagar, Ranga Reddy, Guntur and Bukkapatnam,
2. Haryana Bhiwani and Rohtak
3. Karnataka Chitradurga, Devanagere, Raichur, Gulbarga,Tumkur, Bellary, Mysore, Chamrajanagar, Hassan, Kolar, Bagalkot, Koppal, Gadag, Haveri, Dharwad, North Kanara, Shimoga, Gadag, Belgaum, Mandya, Koppal,Gadag, Uttara Kannada, Hospet, Sandur and Chikmagalore,
4. Chhattisgarh Dhamtari/Raipur, Rajnadgaon, Mahasamund, Kanker, Jaspur, Durg, Raigarh, Janjgir, Jagdalpur (Bastar) and Dantewada,
5. Rajasthan Sikar, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Sirohi, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Tonk, Nagaur, Bharatpur, Alwar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Banswara, Pali and Chitorgarh
6. Uttar Pradesh Jhansi and Lalitpur
7. Jharkhand East Singhbhum
8. Orissa Nawarangpur, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Bargarh Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Angul and Kandhamal,
9. Madhya Pradesh Narsinghpur, Hoshangabad, Chhindwara, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Tikamgarh, Shahdol, Umaria, Jabalpur, Katni, Sidhi, Panna, Satna, Betul, Rewa, Shivpuri, Datia, Guna, Gwalior, Balaghat,
10. West Bengal Midnapur and Purulia