(a)whether a team of Osmania University and Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) from Hyderabad has made a major discovery of large quantities of uranium reserves in Srisailam forests;
(b)If so, the details thereof;
(c)whether the Government proposes to consider setting up a nuclear power plant around that area; and
(d)if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a)&(b) No, Sir. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) is a constituent Unit under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has neither undertaken any joint-exploration with Osmania University for the discovery of uranium in Srisailam Forest area nor has reported any new occurrence of uranium in the area along with Osmania University. However, AMD has already located significant uranium deposits along the Srisailam forests and its vicinity at Lambapur (1991), Peddagattu (1993) and Chritral (1995) in Nalgonda district, Telangana and Koppunuru (1994) in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. The status of uranium deposits (as of June 2015) located by AMD in the Nalgonda district, Telangana and Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh are given below:
State District Name of the deposit
(year of discovery) Uranium reserves
U3O8 (t) U (t)
Andhra Pradesh Guntur Koppunuru (1994) 2,761 2,341
Telangana Nalgonda Lambapur (1991) 1,450 1,230
Peddagattu (1993) 7,585 6,432
Chitrial (1995) 9,515 8,069
(c)No, Sir. There is no such proposal under consideration at hand.
(d)Does not arise in view of (c) above.
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