GOLD DEPOSITS IN CHHATTISGARH
Rajya Sabha
Mineral Resource Department,
Government of Chhattisgarh has informed that Directorate of Geology
and Mining has estimated 2780 kilograms of gold reserves in Sonakhan
area of Raipur district and 25 kilograms of placer gold in Tapkara
Barjor area of Jashpur district, Chhattisgarh. Indian Bureau of
Mines have in their Indian Minerals Yearbook, 2001, categorized
these deposits as possible and probable reserves only.
The exploration/exploitation
of the gold deposits is governed in accordance with National Mineral
Policy, 1993 and Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation),
Act 1957. According to this Policy, gold, which was hitherto reserved
for exploitation by the Public Sector, has been thrown open for
Private Sector participation, both domestic and foreign. The Mines
and Minerals (Development and Regulation), Act 1957 was amended
in December 1999 to make the provisions more investor friendly.
This was informed
by Union Minister for Coal & Mines Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in
a written reply today in Rajya Sabha.
