The State Government is planning to conduct a survey this year to look for new reserves of coal and graphite and traces of gold and gemstones in the State, sources in the Steel and Mines Department said.
The survey would cover a huge 80,000-sqkm area in north-west and central Odisha, the sources informed. The exploration, to be undertaken with the assistance of the Geological Survey of India, would cover the coal belt of Jharsuguda district to find out new coal reserves, the Giringkela area in Sundargarh district for gold, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Cuttack districts for graphite and Kalahandi for gemstones, the sources said. The Government has earmarked `8 crore in the current financial year for the purpose, the sources added.
