Chhattisgarh rich in iron ore, coal, bauxite

IANS | 31 Mar, 2008
Mining officials Monday said they have found massive fresh stocks of iron ore, coal and bauxite in Chhattisgarh.

A survey conducted by the directorate of geology and mining found an estimated 40 million tonne coal reserves in Raigarh district and about 20 million iron ore reserves of the finest quality in the state's southern hilly region of Dantewada and Kanker districts.

"The directorate carried out a survey of about 1,212 sq km areas of state's various districts during first 10 months of the fiscal 2007-08 and it has ended up with a huge positive outcome in findings of coal in the state's northern region and iron ore in the southern forested belt," an official told IANS.

The coal has been found in Gare Pelma stretch in Raigarh district while iron ore stocks are located in Kamalur, Gondapal, Pendawar and Masodi villages in Dantewada district close to Bailadila hills known for the country's finest quality iron ore stocks.

The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), India's largest iron ore producer and exporter in public sector, has had major mining facilities at Bailadila hills for about three decades.

Huge iron ore reserves have also been located in Kanker district's Taroki, Tumapal and Hurtarai villages.

Directorate officials confirm that huge stocks of bauxite have been found at Mainpat in Surguja district. Mainpat, known as Chhattisgarh's hill station, is already feeding bauxite to Sterlite-group controlled Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) based at Korba and findings of new stocks is likely to encourage metal and mining firms to bring in more investment to the state.

Officials say it will take another three-four years to start mining from newfound locations.