(a) whether the State Government of Chhattisgarh requested the Union Government for financial assistance and permission for mining of diamonds in the State;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Union Government thereto;
(c) whether some Indian foreign companies have shown their interest in diamond mining project; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SUSHREE UMA BHARTI)
(a) to (d): State Governments are required to obtain prior approval of the Central Government before grant of mineral concessions for minerals specified under the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957. Diamond is a mineral specified in the First Schedule to the aforesaid Act. In this context, on the recommendations of the State Government of Chhattisgarh, approvals have been given by the Central Government for grant of 11 reconnaissance permits for diamond and associated minerals to various applicants in Chhattisgarh by the State Government. The details of these approvals are given in Annexure.
Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1175 for 26.11.2002 asked by Dr. Charan Das Mahant regarding Mining of Diamond in Chhattisgarh.
Sl.No. Name of the Company Area (In Sq. Kms.) District
1. M/s. De-Beers India Surveys Pvt. Ltd. 2000 Raipur, Mahasumund
2. -do- 1000 -do-
3. M/s. De-Beers India Prospecting Pvt. Ltd. 2000 Durg, Kanker, Dhamtari 4, -do- 1975 Durg, Rajnandgaon
5. -do- 2000 Durg 6. M/s. ACC Rio Tinto Exploration Pvt. Ltd. 3000 Dhamtari, Mahasumund
7 -do- 800 Jashpur
8. -do- 800 Raigarh, Janjgir & Mahasumund
9. -do- 1360 Raipur, Dhamtari, Bastar, Kanker 10. M/s. Empress Granite Pvt. Ltd. 1000 Kanker 11. M/s. B. Vijay Kumar Technical Services Pvt. Ltd. 2400 Dhamtari, Raipur