RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Secretary, Mineral Resources Department, P. Dayanand on Wednesday underlined the need for exploration of the minerals in a continuous and systematic manner.

He was addressing the 24th meeting of the State Level Geological Program Board, Chhattisgarh held in the mini conference hall of Civil Line Vishram Bhawan, capital city Raipur.

He asked all the departments and institutions involved in exploration work to explore the minerals found in the state by using their skills, resources and latest technologies available for the overall development of the state.

He has advised to share the data generated and establish mutual coordination among the agencies working for the development of minerals.

P. Dayanand said that in the year 2023-24, mining revenue of about Rs 13,000 crore has been received, which is about 30 times more than the year of establishment of the state.

Director of Geology and Mining Department, Jain said that this year a total of 1,050 million tonnes of limestone and 179 million tonnes of iron ore reserves were estimated.

Approval of 01 exploration project for limestone in the year 2023-24 under NMET in Chhattisgarh has been received by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India. Three proposals were approved for the exploration work of the state under NMET to the notified private exploration institute. Which includes two graphite and one rare earth metal (REE).

Dr. Sudeep Bhattacharya, Deputy Director General of the Geological Survey of India, said that survey work was done for bauxite, gold, copper, glauconite, graphite, base metal, diamond, lithium, REE, PGE, phosphorite, fluorite minerals in various districts of Chhattisgarh. A total of 25 projects of various minerals are being undertaken in the year 2024-25.

Joint Director (Geology) Sanjay Kanakne said a total of 12 exploration projects were approved for survey-prospecting work in the year 2024-25 includes 01 project on manganese, 01 on graphite, 03 on limestone, 05 on iron ore and 02 on bauxite. The Ministry of Mines, Government of India has approved two proposals for private exploration institutes in which proposal of 01 Lithium and 01 Graphite is included.

Similarly, in the year 2024-25, a total of 44 projects of 10 different minerals were approved by various institutions for exploration-prospecting work in the state. In which 02 of Phosphorite, 05 of Gold, 06 of Glauconite, 11 of REE (Lithium, Tantalum etc.), 01 of Lead-Zinc, 01 of Phosphate, 05 of Bauxite, 09 of Iron Ore, 02 of Copper, 01 of Graphite. And 01 exploration-prospecting project of Lithium is included.