AIR SURVEY FOR MINERAL EXPLORATION
Airborne Geophysical
Surveys in the country are carried out as an aid to mineral exploration
and related geological studies. To boost the exploration and subsequent
extraction of minerals, 174 reconnaissance permits (RP) and prospecting
licenses (PL) covering a large area of nearly 2.4 lakh sq.kms.
have been granted in various parts of the country. RP/PL have
been granted for aerial survey to Indian companies namely National
Mineral Development Corporation, Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and Hutti
Gold Mines. Ltd.
In consonance
with the policy of opening up of the mineral sector and subsequent
speedy exploration of minerals in the country, exploration work
of minerals has been assigned to some of the subsidiaries of the
foreign companies registered in India under the Companies Act.
They are M/s Metmin Finance & Holding Co.Ltd., M/s BHP Minerals
(India) Pvt. Ltd., M/s. Inglewood Minerals (P) Ltd., M/s.WSIL
Minerals Sands India Pvt. Ltd., M/s Geomysore Services India Pvt.
Ltd., Phelps Dodge Exploration India Pvt. Ltd., M/s. De Beers
India Surveys Pvt. Ltd., M/s. De Beers India Prospecting Pvt.
Ltd., M/s. Diamond Prospecting Pvt. Ltd., and M/s. De Beers India
Minerals Pvt. Ltd.
This information
was given by the Minister for Mines Shri Ramesh Bais in a written
reply in the Lok Sabha today.
