(a) The details of the gold deposit areas in the country and the approximate quantum of gold reserved in those areas, State-wise;
(b) the steps taken for the proper exploitation of gold reserved;
(c) whether the gold mining in all these areas would be economically viable;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the cost of gold mining in those areas?
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS, SPORTS AND MINES (SHRI SUKHDEV SINGH DHINDSA)
(a) to (e) As per the information maintained by the Indian Bureau of Mines(IBM), a subordinate office of the Ministry of Mines, the estimated reserves of gold in the country as on 1.4.1995 are given in the following Statement:-
Recoverable Reserves (As on 1.4.1995). (In tonnes) State Proved Probable Possible Total Ore/MetalPrior to 1993, exploitation of gold was reserved for the public sector. Under the National Mineral Policy, 1993, the exploration and exploitation of gold has been de-reserved and thrown open to private sector. While private sector Companies have been granted large area prospecting licences for gold under the liberalised policy, gold mining in the country at present is being done only by the Public Sector Units, viz. Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML), a Central Government Public Sector Enterprise and Hutti Gold Mines Limited(HGML), a public sector undertaking of State Government of Karnataka. The cost of production of 10 grams of gold by BGML during 1999-2000 was Rs 20406(provisional) while the price of 10 grams of gold ranges between Rs. 4300-4500.
All India 4178910 10003179 3605886 17787975 Ore 21 36 11 68 Metal Andhra Pradesh 438446 456749 2896086 3791881 Ore 1 1 9 11 Metal Bihar 7200 7200 Ore negligible negligible Metal Karnataka 3270984 8910250 682200 12863434 Ore 20 33 1 54 Metal Kerala 462280 96180 558460 Ore 0.16 0.03 0.19 Metal Madhya Pradesh 540000 27000 567000 Ore 1.11 0.5 1.61 Metal