Parliament Question: Mining Potential in Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha Constituency

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1790 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2026 MINING POTENTIAL IN GADCHIROLI-CHIMUR LOK SABHA CONSTITUENCY

1790. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the mineral resources and mining potential in the Gadchiroli–Chimur Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of mining leases granted, mineral blocks auctioned and mining projects that have commenced or are proposed in the said Constituency during the said period;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any plan to ensure that local tribal communities receive adequate employment, skill development, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) benefits and rehabilitation in mining-affected areas and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of funds released and works undertaken under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in Gadchiroli district during the last three years, sector-wise; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that mining activities in the said Constituency are carried out in accordance with environmental safeguards, forest conservation norms and the provisions relating to the rights of Scheduled Tribes and Gram Sabhas ? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY)

(a): During the last five years, Central Govt. agencies such as the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL); Notified Exploration Agencies (NEAs) through funding from National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT), and State exploration agencies have completed 26 exploration projects in Gadchiroli–Chimur Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra.

The details are given at Annexure-I.

(b): During the said period, 09 mineral blocks of iron ore, limestone and copper, comprising 08 Composite Licence (CL) blocks and 01 Mining Lease (ML) block, are auctioned by the State. Composite Licence deed executed in all the 08 CL blocks.(c): As per the information received from the Government of Maharashtra, following measures are implemented to ensure that local tribal communities receive employment opportunities, skill development, benefits under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), and appropriate rehabilitation in mining-affected areas:

i. Preference to local persons for employment subject to availability of eligible candidates. ii. Skill development programmes through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by mining lease holders. iii. DMF funds are utilized for the welfare of the people in mining-affected areas in accordance with the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), by taking up projects for education, drinking water, health care, roads, livelihood and infrastructure.

iv. Rehabilitation & Resettlement undertaken as per applicable laws and statutory clearances.

(d): As per the information received from the Government of Maharashtra, the sector- wise details of fund released and work undertaken under the District Mineral Foundation in Godchiroli district during the last three years are given at Annexure II.

(e): As per the MMDR Act, 1957 and rules made thereunder, Mining activities are permitted only after obtaining the requisite statutory approvals, including Environmental Clearance (EC), Forest Clearance (FC), consent from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and approved Mining Plan. Compliance with EC and FC conditions is monitored through periodic inspections by the authorities of State mining department and MPCB. In addition to the above, mining activities in Scheduled Areas are governed by the provisions of PESA, 1996 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Further, Gram Sabha consent/recommendations are obtained wherever required under the applicable statutory provision.

*****Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of LS US PQ no. 1790 for answer on

29.07.2026 regarding ‘Mining Potential in Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha Constituency’ Sl. Exploration No. of Exploration Commodities No. agencies projects completed 1 GSI 13 Copper, Lead & Zinc (2); Copper (7);

Base metal (3); Chromium, Nickel, Cobalt & PGE (1) 2 MECL 1 Copper, Gold & Silver (1) 3 Notified Exploration 8 Iron ore (6), Limestone (2) Agencies under NMEDT 4 State Directorate of 4 REE & RM (3), Base Metal & Gold (1) Geology and Mining Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of LS US PQ no. 1790 for answer on

29.07.2026 regarding ‘Mining Potential in Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha Constituency’ S.

Sector Projects Amount (₹ Cr.) No 1 Agriculture 23 78.68 2 Animal Husbandry 3 2.20 3 Drinking Water Supply 133 13.52 4 Education 342 132.42 5 Energy & Watershed Development 3 4.23 Environment Preservation & Pollution 6 97 13.44 Control 7 Health Care 355 56.87 8 Irrigation 13 10.16 9 Physical Infrastructure 539 184.68 10 Sanitation 11 7.41 11 Skill Development 29 11.67 12 Welfare of Women & Children 61 18.78 TOTAL 1,609 534.06