Question : Uranium Deposits

(a) the details of the uranium deposits available in the country at present in various plants especially in Rajasthan;
(b) whether the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) has identified potential area of uranium deposits in various States of the country particularly in the Sikar district of Rajasthan;
(c) If so, the details thereof and the details of the estimated quantity of the uranium deposits in those areas, State-wise particularly in Sikar district of Rajasthan; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government for extraction of uranium from the said deposits and setting up of uranium treatment plant in the said States particularly in Rajasthan?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a) The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has established a total of 3,82,675 tonne (t) in situ U3O8 in forty-seven (47) uranium deposits in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. The State – wise details of uranium deposits are given in Table -1.

In Rajasthan, AMD has established a total of 15,631t in-situ U3O8 in five (05) uranium deposits. Details of uranium deposits are given in Table – 1.


(b) No Sir. AMD is carrying out exploration for uranium in the potential geological domains of the country. As part of the exploration programme, AMD outsources certain quantum of heliborne geophysical surveys to National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), in addition to the coverage by AMD.

(c) In view of Answer (b), the query does not arise.
Further, the estimated quantity of uranium in the deposits established by AMD state-wise, particularly in Sikar district, Rajasthan is given in Table – 1.

(d) The reports of uranium deposits established by AMD are handed over to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a Public Sector Undertakingof DAE for mining. Mining technology and economics are important criteria which decide the exploitation and extraction status of a deposit like other mineral deposits.

Pre-Project activities required for obtaining statutory clearances have been initiated by Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. As a part of this, State Govt. of Rajasthan has issued Letter of Intent (LOI) for granting of mining lease to UCIL.

Presently, the deposits at Jaduguda, Narwapahar, Bagjata, Bhatin, Banduhurang, Turamdih and Mohuldih in Jharkhand and Tummalapalle in Andhra Pradesh are under exploitation by UCIL.

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