Question : SURVEY OF MINERALS

(a) whether the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and other concerned agencies have conducted any survey to explore the mineral resources/deposits in the country including in un-explored mines/areas;

(b) if so, the outcome of such surveys during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise and mineral-wise;

(c) the quantum of metal and mineral reserves/deposits estimated alongwith its value in these areas, State-wise and mineral-wise;

(d) the total amount allocated and the expenditure incurred on these surveys during each of the last three years and the current year; and

(e) the details of the new areas identified by GSI for conducting fresh surveys and the time by which commercial exploitation of such minerals is likely to commence?

THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.271 REGARDING SURVEY OF MINERALS ASKED BY SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID AND DR. CHARAN DAS MAHANT FOR ANSWER ON 8TH DECEMBER, 2009.

(a) : At national level, Geological Survey of India (GSI) carries out regional survey and exploration for minerals on an annual basis and estimates mineral resources in the country. In addition, all State-level Directorates of Mining and Geology also do survey and exploration on detailed basis. However, the information is not maintained by Government of India.

(b) : The investigations taken up as part of the survey for minerals by GSI, State wise and mineral wise during the last three field seasons 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 and being taken up during the current field season 2009-10 are given at Annexure-I. Reports on these investigations are available with GSI and is also being put up in GSI Portal (www.portal.gsi.gov.in).

(c) : GSI does not estimate mineral reserves. This work is undertaken by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). Based on the data obtained from various agencies engaged in detailed exploration and exploitation including State Government Agencies, IBM publishes an Indian Mineral Year Book annually and a copy is available in Parliament Library.

(d) : The total amount allocated to GSI and the expenditure incurred on these surveys in the last three years and the current year, Region-wise, is given at Annexure-II.

(e) : The potential areas for initiating new programmes are selected based on the favourable geological milieu identified through modern and sophisticated exploration methods/techniques and on the basis of these studies, the exploration strategy is prioritized on an annual basis keeping in view the short-term as well as long term requirements of minerals in the country as per the National Mineral Policy. The items identified by GSI for survey and exploration during the Field Season 2009-10 are available on the GSI Portal: www.portal.gsi.gov.in. Since commercial exploitation of surveyed areas is done on the basis of grant of mineral concessions under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, it is not possible to state the time by which commercial exploitation of any minerals found during survey can commence.