Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai: Chhattisgarh’s participation in the mining sector will be made more effective by coordinating with the Central Government.
Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy: Chhattisgarh’s role is leading in achieving the target of one billion tonnes of coal production in the country.
Chief Minister and Union Minister provided the composite license agreement for the country’s first lithium block.
Meaningful discussion held on extensive exploration of strategically important minerals.
Raipur, April 11, 2025/ Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy held a review meeting of the Mineral Resources Department today at the Ministry, Mahanadi Bhawan. The meeting included a detailed review of Chhattisgarh’s mineral wealth, exploration works, technological innovations, and revenue achievements. Union Minister Shri Reddy expressed satisfaction with Chhattisgarh’s achievements in the mining sector and spoke about the state’s leading role in the country’s progress. He expressed happiness at achieving the target of 1 billion tonnes of coal production in the country in the year 2024-2025 and praised Chhattisgarh’s contribution in achieving this. On this occasion, the Chief Minister and the Union Minister handed over the composite license agreement document for the country’s first lithium block to the representative of the successful bidder. Along with this, preferred bidder orders were also given for three iron ore blocks in Dantewada district and one block in Kanker district.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that today’s review meeting will be beneficial for the coal and mining sector in the state. We will make Chhattisgarh’s participation in the mining sector more effective by coordinating with the Central Government as required. Our goal is that our state becomes a strong pillar through the mineral sector in the construction of a developed India. Shri Sai informed that Chhattisgarh is a state full of mineral resources and many innovative initiatives have been taken to ensure proper and sustainable use of resources. Minerals including coal, iron ore, bauxite, tin, limestone and many critical minerals are available in our state, which not only strengthen the state’s economy but also play an important role in the industrial progress of the country. In the context of the vision of a developed nation, keeping in mind the need for strategically important minerals, the department is prioritizing the exploration of critical minerals by making extensive changes in its exploration plan.
Shri Sai said that measures such as mineral online portal, e-auction process, star rating are being adopted to bring transparency, environmental responsibility and technical efficiency. He said that inclusive development of mining affected areas is being prioritized through DMF.
Union Minister of Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy said that Chhattisgarh is a very rich and strategically important state in terms of mineral resources. Chhattisgarh has the distinction of being the only tin producing state in the country along with important minerals like coal, iron ore, bauxite, limestone.
Shri Reddy said that the role of ‘Critical Minerals’ and the mining sector is extremely important in building a developed India. The leading steps taken by Chhattisgarh in this direction are milestones in the direction of making India self-reliant. He said that the Central Government will work together with the State Government for the exploration, sustainable use of mineral resources and development of mining affected areas. He expressed confidence that Chhattisgarh will continue to make an effective contribution to the overall development of the country by playing a strong role in the mineral sector.
During his Chhattisgarh visit, Union Minister Shri Reddy mentioned the inspection of Gevra, the country’s largest coal mine. He also appreciated the innovations and state-of-the-art technologies being implemented in the mine. He mentioned the afforestation site developed with Japanese Miyawaki technique in Gevra and also talked about using this initiative on a large scale. Shri Reddy also talked about providing solar power under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana in mining affected areas. He also took information about the progress of the Dedicated Coal Corridor being built for coal transportation, keeping in view the increasing traffic pressure and civil safety in the mining areas.