The State Level Geological Program Mandal in Chhattisgarh recently convened its 25th meeting, held at the New Circuit House in Civil Lines, under the chairmanship of P. Dayanan, Secretary of the Department of Mineral Resources. The meeting, attended by key officials and representatives from various government departments and undertakings, served as a platform to review the past year’s achievements, strategize on mineral resource utilization, and outline plans for new mining projects.
A primary highlight of the meeting was the significant revenue generated by the mining sector. In the fiscal year 2024-25, the state is projected to earn approximately ₹15,000 crore from mineral resources, a remarkable 34% increase compared to the previous year. This robust financial performance underscores the vital role of the mining sector in driving economic growth and attracting investment.
P. Dayanan emphasized the importance of minerals as a cornerstone of overall development. The discovery of strategic and critical minerals is seen as a catalyst for a new era of growth in Chhattisgarh. The government plans to conduct continuous and systematic exploration of the state’s mineral resources to support the growth of mineral-based industries.
Attendees from exploration-related departments and institutions were urged to utilize their resources and expertise. Furthermore, Dayanan suggested the sharing of data and fostering collaboration among agencies engaged in mineral development in Chhattisgarh.
Rajat Bansal, Director of Geology and Mining, provided insights into the achievements during the 2024-25 regional session, including the assessment of roughly 2500 million tonnes of limestone and 93 million tonnes of iron ore reserves. The department will include significant and strategic minerals in the upcoming exploration projects for 2025-26.
These projects are considered essential for securing the necessary mineral resources and bolstering the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission. The Chhattisgarh government is committed to providing comprehensive support for scientific mineral exploration and development.
The Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has approved exploration projects in Chhattisgarh under the NMET program, including projects for limestone and bauxite in 2024-25. The state is also promoting collaboration with private exploration institutions to enhance exploration and mineral resource refinement efforts.
The meeting also included presentations on mineral exploration activities by representatives from various government departments. The Geological Survey of India highlighted survey work for diverse minerals such as bauxite, gold, lithium, and rare earth metals in various districts. A total of 29 projects on various minerals are planned for the year 2025-26.
The Directorate of Geology and Mining, Chhattisgarh, has approved 11 exploration projects for the upcoming year, focusing on strategic minerals, glauconite, lepidolite, limestone, iron ore, and bauxite. The meeting saw participation from key officials from IBM, GSI, and AMD, along with representatives from major mining companies and other related departments.