Funds released in meet chaired by Joshi, Dr Jitendra
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 28: The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) met in New Delhi today in which proposals for exploration of minerals were reviewed at different places across the country including two in Jammu and Kashmir.
The projects reviewed in Jammu and Kashmir include Lithium in Reasi and sapphire in Kishtwar.
The meeting was attended by Union Minister for Coal and Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi and Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Atomic Energy Dr Jitendra Singh besides senior officers of both the Ministries.
“Different proposals for minerals under exploration were reviewed in Jammu and Kashmir including two in Jammu and Kashmir–Lithium in Reasi and Sapphires in Kishtwar,” the officials said.
For Lithium in Reasi, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has conducted two Surveys including G4 and G3 which have established for certain the presence of Lithium, a source of clean energy.
“Now the exploration for next stage will begin,” the officials said.
The Government of India and NMET have asked the UT Government for auction and for the purpose ancillary support worth Rs 1.44 crore was approved today, of which, Rs 57.82 lakh have been released.
The officials said a total of 14 private agencies have been empanelled by the NMET who can apply for the tenders.
“It will be a national tender,” they said.
As far as exploration of Sapphire in Kishtwar is concerned, the task will be executed by the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of Indian Government.
The MECL has been released Rs 4.26 crore this year and it will get Rs 45 crore next years.
“There have been huge reserves of Sapphire in Kishtwar but only constrain is that area is snow bound which creates certain difficulties in exploration,” the officials said.
Reasi has come on world map in Lithium and Kishtwar in Sapphire, they added.
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