OFF SHORE MINING
LOK SABHA
Geological Survey of
India (GSI) of the Ministry of Mines conducts systematic surveys
for seabed mapping and exploration of minerals in the territorial
waters, continental shelf and within the Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) of India. During the surveys heavy mineral sands comprising
ilmenite, rutile, zircon, sillimanite, monazite and garnet have
been located off the coasts of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
and Kerala, high grade lime mud deposit off the coasts of Andhra
Pradesh and Gujarat and micro-manganese nodules and ferromanganese
encrustations in Andaman and Lakshadweep seas.
Under the Offshore
Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, royalty
is payable by the lessee to the Central Government for the mineral
consumed or removed by him as the Central Government is the owner
of minerals in offshore areas. The Central Government have not
notified any area for exploration and production in the offshore
area so far.
This information
was given by the Minister for Mines Shri Ramesh Bais in a written
reply in the Lok Sabha today.
