Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) would involve NABL accredited mineral testing laboratories for the analysis of the different elements of the bauxite and iron ore, officials informed.
CMDC has already started the tendering process for carrying out detailed exploration of different bauxite and iron Ore blocks in the State and for preparation of exploration and pre-feasibility report of the blocks, officials informed.
The blocks are situated at Sukhjhar with area measuring 294.22 hectares (Ha), Rupakhar (186.201 Ha) and Pathrai Bauxite Block(99.350 Ha) and Aridongri Iron Ore Block (166.80 Ha) .
The exploration of bauxite mineral reserves had been going on in Kabirdham, Surguja, Balrampur, Jashpur, Kanker and Kondagaon districts of Chhattisgarh, the Central Government has informed.
The mining activities of major minerals including Bauxite, are regulated as per the provisions contained in Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 and the rules framed there under. The MMDR Act and the Rules there under have been framed after wide consultation with all stakeholders, including State Governments, it informed.
Further, the measures for conservation of minerals, including bauxite are taken as per the provisions of MMDR Act, 1957 and National Mineral Policy-2008, which, inter alia, states that conservation of mineral shall be construed not in the restrictive sense of abstinence from consumption or preservation for use in the distant future but as a positive concept leading to augmentation of reserve base through improvement in mining methods, beneficiation and utilisation of low grade ore and rejects and recovery of associated minerals.
CMDC will also be hiring an agency for carrying out Reconnaissance Survey for iron ore blocks at ‘G-4 level’ in six districts of the State, officials informed.
The survey would be conducted in North Bailadila Dantewada , Hurtarai (Surveyed by DGM) district Kanker , Aturbeda (Surveyed by DGM) district Kanker 4, Kanker, district Kanker , Naryanpur district Narayanpur , Raoghat district Kanker, Forest compartment No. 153& 154 Salewara Range district Rajnandgaon , Forest compartment No. 142 Range Dallirajhara district Balod.
CMDC has already invited bids from prospective operators for excavation, magnetic separation, crushing, screening, transportation and delivery of iron ore at Aridongri Iron Ore Mine in Kanker district of Bastar, officials informed.
The iron ore deposit of Aridongri hills of District Kanker lies in the southern part of the Rajhara iron ore deposit.
The State Government's Mineral Resources Department vide letter dated November 10, 2015 had issued Letter of Intent (LoI) for granting Mining Lease (ML) in favour of CMDC over an area of 166.800 hectares in the compartment number 608 of Bhanupratappur Forest range under the Bhanupratappur East Forest Division.
Forest Clearance as well as Environment Clearance has been received from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for the mining operations, officials informed.
CMDC intends to sell iron ore produced from the proposed Aridongri mine to steel / sponge iron units at Bhilai, Raipur and Raigarh on priority basis, officials informed.
Efforts are being made to increase the production so that sufficient quantity of iron ore is available for export after meeting the requirements of the expanding home market. Export of iron ore is necessary for earning the much needed foreign exchange, they informed.
The mining at Aridongri will be carried out by open cast mechanized method.The project area is located near Kachhe village on Dallirajhara-Bhanupratappur road.
The Chhattisgarh Government had targetted to carry out survey and mapping for 1,000 square kms of State’s area during 2015-16 for geological exploration during the 12th five year plan ( 2012-17).
The minerals being explored as Bauxite, Limestone, Iron ore, Coal, Dolomite, Manganese and Granite, officials stated.