Bhopal:Tuesday, December 30, 2008:Minister of State (Independent charge) for Mineral Resources, Forest, Biodiversity and Biotechnology Shri Rajendra Shukla has laid stress on making special efforts for increasing revenue from minerals and taking stern action against illegal mining and transportation of minerals. He informed that a new project is being established for producing diamond in the private sector in Chhatarpur district. Shri Shukla was reviewing the departmental activities at the Mantralaya here today. He instructed the officers of the Khanij Nigam to expedite the process of energy generation through coal block.
Those present at the meeting included Secretary Mineral Resources Shri S.K. Mishra, executive director Madhya Pradesh Rajya Khanij Nigam Shri S.K. Mandal, Director Geological Survey and Mining Shri R.K. Sharma and other departmental officers.
Shri Shukla said that increase in financial resources is imperative for development and the department must work in this direction. He said that that Mineral Resources Department must achieve the target set for revenue and technical survey. Besides, constant efforts should be put in for generating maximum revenue. The Minister of State also issued instructions to put an effective curb on illegal mining in the forest areas jointly by the Mineral Resources and Forest departments.
The minister informed that meeting that Madhya Pradesh is identified as a diamond-producing state. Now, Rio Tinto, a private sector company has detected a diamond deposit in Chhatarpur district and is going to set up a diamond project for commercial production of diamond in the district. The state government is expected to get Rs 100 crore royalty annually from this project.
Secretary Shri S.K. Mishra dwelt in detail about the departmental activities. He informed that mining of 20 kinds of main and 10 kinds of inferior minerals is done in the state. The state has monopoly in diamond production in the country. Shri Mishra informed that Government of India has allotted 25 coal blocks for captive and other use in private and government undertakings. Action is being taken for sanction of remaining blocks. He said that the Mining Corporation is going to form a joint sector company for coal production. The coal deposits available in Madhya Pradesh would be mainly used for power generation. Thus, Madhya Pradesh will add new dimension in power generation by the use of available coal deposits and coal-bed methane gas.
Shri Mishra informed that a new source of energy has been found in Madhya Pradesh in the form of coal-bed methane gas. Messrs Reliance Industries Ltd has found 3.65 billion tonnes deposits of coal-bed methane gas in Shahdol and Anuppur districts. the company has applied for lease for commercial production CBM.
Director Mineral Resources Shri R.K. Sharma informed that efforts to excavate deposits of oil and natural gas are being undertaken by Messrs J.P. Associates and ONGC in Damoh and Betul districts which have yielded encouraging results.
Those present at the meeting included superintending geologist Shri S.K. Shah, Joint Director Shri Vineet Austin, General Managers Khanij Nigam Sarvashri S.K. Dube and Rakesh Shayal and other departmental officers.