PATNA: Bihar may soon be recognised as a mineral rich state as several fresh explorations for assessing presence of minerals are set to commence over the next few months.
In a latest development, Bihar government has received an application from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited to seek permission for detailed exploration to assess the presence of oil reserves in Buxar and Samastipur districts in the Ganga basin.
Additional chief secretary-cum-mines commissioner, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah told TOI on Monday that state- owned ONGC has found traces of petroleum in their preliminary survey of the two districts in Ganga basin.
“ONGC has stated in its report that petroleum traces have been found in the Ganga basin in Buxar and Samastipur districts in Bihar. Accordingly, it has intimated the government of India as well as Bihar government and sought permission from the state government for conducting further exploration to assess the presence of oil reserves in the two districts,” Bamhrah said.
She added: “They have also given us the geographical coordinates under which they want to carry out the exploration. As ONGC is the only government agency to carry out oil explorations, thus their application will soon be processed to carry out the proposed exploration in Bihar.”
Officials claimed that the ONGC has also submitted copies of maps along with a schedule of the area in the two districts, where they want to carry out the oil explorations.
Earlier, ONGC had got a contract for oil exploration in Ganga basin area of Bihar in 2009.
Oil explorations apart, three central government agencies have already shown interest in gold explorations in Jamui district. State mines and geology department has got proposals from National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) and Geological Survey of India for conducting further exploration for gold reserves at Jamui.
Mines commissioner Bamhrah said Bihar is likely to get more mineral blocks in the near future owing to new mining policy of the Centre. “Bihar seems to have mineral wealth and fresh explorations will substantiate such claims,” she said.
Incidentally, the parliament had passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021 in March last. After getting a nod from the Lok Sabha on March 19, union minister for coal and mines Pralhad Joshi had tabled the bill in the Rajya Sabha on March 22 and said it will help create employment opportunities and allow the private sector with enhanced technology in mining activities.
Later in December, union minister Joshi informed the Lok Sabha through a written reply that Bihar holds the highest share of India's gold reserves with Jamui district alone having 222.88 million tonnes of gold reserves, including 37.6 tonnes of mineral-rich ore.
