Punjab pushes potash exploration, mining revenue crosses Rs 825 crore
Punjab Mining and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Thursday said the state had become a leading performer in mining reforms under the Aam Aadmi
Punjab Mining and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Thursday said the state had become a leading performer in mining reforms under the Aam Aadmi Party government, while earlier regimes had largely failed to tap its mineral potential. Speaking during Zero Hour in the Assembly, he said the state’s mining revenue had risen from around Rs 120 crore under previous governments to more than Rs 825 crore in the current financial year. Read Full Story He also rejected the opposition’s allegations on illegal sand mining and said earlier governments had kept their focus largely limited to sand while ignoring other mineral resources in Punjab. Goyal told the House that the current government had taken steps on potash, gold and hydrocarbon exploration, and said these efforts could open up fresh economic opportunities for the state.
Goyal said that although potash deposits were discovered in 1989, no serious work was done for decades to develop the mineral. After the Bhagwant Mann government came to power, the issue was taken up with the Centre at meetings held in Odisha and Gujarat, he said. He added that he had personally urged the Union mines minister to speed up action, stressing that potash was a critical mineral of national importance. Following these efforts, the Centre sanctioned around Rs 19 crore for detailed exploration, and drilling has now started at 10 more locations. Preliminary assessments by Central agencies, he said, had shown encouraging signs, and successful exploration could reduce India’s dependence on imported potash while creating new avenues of economic growth for Punjab. The minister also said geological surveys had pointed to the presence of gold-bearing zones in Punjab.
He referred to Geological Survey of India reports from 1985-86, 1986-87, 1991-92 and 1993-94, which recorded the presence of gold in parts of the state, including stretches along the Siswan and Budki rivers. Those reports, he said, had found encouraging gold values in samples collected during reconnaissance surveys. Goyal told the House that modern exploration technologies were now being used for detailed investigation and scientific assessment of these reserves. He said the previous government had not carried out detailed follow-up exploration, while the present government had assigned a dedicated geologist to monitor work on both potash and gold. He added that the state would fully support scientific investigations, and that only detailed exploration using modern technology could establish whether the gold deposits were commercially viable. Goyal further said oil exploration activity was under way in Punjab, with the state assuring full cooperation to Central agencies exploring hydrocarbon reserves in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda and Faridkot districts.
The BriefWire