Question : Gold Reserves

(a) the details of the estimated current gold reserves in the country at present;
(b) whether the Geological Survey of India and the Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Geology and Mining has discovered two gold mines in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh recently;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the estimated quantum of gold deposits in the said areas;
(d) the time by which the gold extraction work is likely to be started in these areas;
(e) whether the Union Government/State Government has closed down some gold mines in the country;
(f) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for the same; and
(g) the status of Gold exploration in the country in general, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (g): As per National Mineral Inventory maintained by the Indian Bureau of Mines, the gold ore reserves, as on 01.04.2015, stood at 1,72,28,174 tonnes.
Geological Survey of India [GSI] and Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Geology and Mining [DGM-UP] have not discovered any gold mine in Sonbhadra District of Uttar Pradesh. However, GSI has estimated a gold ore resource of 52,806.25 tonnes with average grade of 3.03 gram/tonne in sub block – H, SonaPahari area, Sonbhadra District. The DGM-UP has also estimated gold ore resource of 21,53,000tonnes with average grade of 0.30 gram/tonne in Hardi area (Eastern Block), Sonbhadra District.
Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, for major minerals, the mineral concession can be allotted through auctioning. The power to grant these mineral concessions vests with the State Governments.
Bharat Gold Mines Limited [BGML], a Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Mines was referred to Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction [BIFR] when its net worth became negative. On its operators becoming economically unviable, BIFR vide its Order dated 12.06.2000 ordered winding up of BGML. Operations of BGMLwere closed with effect from 01.03.2001.
As a part of annual field season programme in 2019-20, GSI has taken up 31 nos. of gold exploration projects viz. Arunachal Pradesh (1), Bihar (1), Chhattisgarh (2), Madhya Pradesh (1), Jharkhand (7), Odisha (3), Telangana (2), Karnataka (7), Tamil Nadu (1), Rajasthan (4), West Bengal (1) and Uttar Pradesh (1).
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