Number of Mines in the Country

Number of Mines in the Country

As per information provided by Indian Bureau of Mines (a sub-ordinate office of the Ministry of Mines), there are a total of 3783 mines in the country as on 29.02.2016, wherein 1845 mines are working. Out of these working mines, 1658 mines are in the Private Sector.

Indian Bureau of Mines, during inspection of mines in the year 2015-16 (upto 20th February) has pointed out 32 environmental violations. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued directions to various State Governments for filling complaints under section 15/19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in the competent courts of law in case of 92 and 64 mining projects during the year 2014 and 2015 (up to October 2015) respectively for violation of the provisions under the said Act.

The compliance of safety norms is primarily the responsibility of the operator of the Mines defined under section 18 of the Mines Act, 1952. The safety norms are being checked for compliance by the Directorate General of Mines Safety through inspections and enquiries made by the officers of the Directorate.

This information was given by Minister of Mines and Steel Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Recession in Mining Sector

According to new series of the Gross Domestic Product, the Gross Value Added (GVA)by the mining and quarrying sector at constant prices is rising over a period of time. The details are provided in the table below:-

GVA at constant prices (at 2011-12 prices)

Mineral	2013-14 {2^nd RE(NS)}	2014-15 (1^stRE)	2015-16(AE)
GVA of Mining & Quarrying Sector (at constant Prices) in Rs. crore	267378	296328	316811

Source; Indian Bureau of Mines

NS: New Series Estimates; RE: Revised Estimates; AE: Advance Estimates;

To boost the investment in mining sector, FDI up to 100% is allowed in exploration, mining, minerals processing and metallurgy under the automatic route for all non-fuel and non-atomic minerals including diamonds and precious stones. Further, the Government has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR)Act, 1957 through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 which inter-alia provides following provisions for promoting the mining industry:

(i) grant of mineral concessions through auction by competitive bidding;

(ii) transition provisions for extension of existing leases to obviate disruptions in supply of ore and to ensure regular supply of raw material to the industry;

(iii) allowing easy transferability of mineral concessions granted through auction, which would facilitate investments into the mining sector; and

(iv) establishment of National Mineral Exploration Trust for regional and detailed exploration;

This information was given by Minister of Mines and Steel Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Import of Minerals

Name of Minerals	2013-14	2014-15 (P)
Alabaster	23975	24831
Alumina	27542194	21244790
Andalusite	187621	201731
Antimony Ores & Conc.	888707	1004076
Arsenic Sulphide (Natural)	576	2041
Asbestos	13298986	17168105
Bauxite	3662474	8560886
Bentonite	201663	316055
Borax	3551233	4474017
Building And Monumental Stones Nes	1147451	1481235
Chromite	3099722	2871479
Cobolt Ores & Conc.	17358	366480
Copper Ores & Conc.	332267404	285028249
Diamond	1349155094	1252140913
Diatomite	186713	87085
Earth Clay	16862	2979
Emerald (Cut & Uncut)	22328772	63062394
Flint	....	2257
Fluorspar	2412179	2967071
Garnet( Cut And Uncut)	46894	68743
Garnet(Abrasive)	10542	10297
Granite	2402008	2261146
Graphite(Natural)	1235588	1335288
Iron Ore	3423552	65947416
Kieselguhr	717	804
Kyanite	13711	17006
Lead Ores & Conc.	3880931	3846804
Limestone	21580366	21961663
Magnesite	2216905	3327761
Manganese Ore	28306272	34669120
Marble	22107203	23848492
Molybdenum Ores & Conc.	5558080	8645534

Nickel Ores & Conc.	1207103	3842487
Niobium Or Tantalum Ores & Conc.	163720	179733
Other Minerals Nes	592588	2286200
Precious & Semi-Precious Stones (Cut & Uncut):	12574990	14675050
Preciuos Metal Ores & Concentrates	106977	22252599
Rock Phosphate	55177899	61803761
Salt ( Other Than Common Salt)	120999	114191
Sand (Excl. Metal Bearing)	61432	98399
Sillimanite	14307	10754
Sulphur (Exc. Sublimed Precipited & Colloidal)	11002926	17446236
Tin Ores & Conc.	380	....
Titanium Ores & Conc.	1933433	971521
Tripoli Earth	740	....
Tungsten Ores & Conc.	28235	61582
Vanadium Ores & Conc.	8674	1378
Vermiculite	8396	11486
Witherite	7122	5268
Wollastonite	30479	32549
Zinc Ores & Conc.	1562269	1693837
Zirconium Ores & Conc.	3772861	3331466
Total	1939147283	1955765245
Source: Indian Bureau of Mines;		P: Provisional

This information was given by Minister of Mines and Steel Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Geo-Heritage Sites

Geological Survey of India (GSI) declares geo-heritage sites/ national geological monuments for protection and maintenance. The State-wise details are given in Annexure. GSI or the respective State governments take necessary measures to protect these sites.

There is no proposal pending with UNSECO for declaration of geo-heritage sites.

Annexure

State-wise details of the geological heritage sites/ national geological monuments

S. No	Geological heritage site / National geological monument	S. No	Geological heritage site / National geological monument
	ANDHRA PRADESH	18	Kishangarh Nepheline Syenite, Ajmer Dist.
1	Volcanogenic bedded Barytes, Mangampeta, Cuddapah Dist.	19	Welded Tuff, Jodhpur Dist.
2	Eparchaean Unconformity, Chittor Dist.	20	Jodhpur Group – Malani Igneous Suite Contact, Jodhpur Dist.
3	Natural Geological Arch, Tirumala Hills, Chittor Dist.	21	Great Boundary Fault at Satur, Bundi Dist.
4	Erra Matti Dibbalu- the dissected and stabilized coastal red sediment mounds located between Vishakhapatnam and Bhimunipatnam.		MAHARASHTRA
	KERALA	22	Lonar Lake, Buldana Dist.
5	Laterite near Angadipuram PWD rest house premises, Malapuram Dist.		CHATTISGARH
6	Varkala Cliff Section, Thiruvanatapuram Dist.	22	Lower Permian Marine bed at Manendragarh, Surguja Dist.
	TAMILNADU		KARNATAKA
7	Fossil wood near Tiruvakkarai, South Arcot Dist.	24	Columnar Lava, St Mary Island Udupi Dist.
8	National fossil wood park, Sattanur, Tiruchirapalli Dist.	25	Pillow lavas near Mardihalli, Chitradurga Dist.
9	Charnockite, St. Thomas Mount, Madras.	26	Peninsular Gneiss, Lalbagh, Banglore
10	Badlands of Karai Formation with Cretaceous fossils along Karai – Kulakkalnattam Section, Perambalur District.	27	Pyroclastics & Pillow lavas, Kolar Gold fields, Kolar Dist.
	GUJARAT		HIMACHAL PRADESH
11	Sedimentary Structures – Eddy Markings, Kadan Dam, Panch Mahals Dist.	28	Siwalik Fossil Park, Saketi, Sirmur dt.,
	RAJASTHAN		ODISHA
12	Sendra Granite, Pali Dist.	29	Pillow Lava in lron ore belt at Nomira, Keonjhar dist.
13	Barr Conglomerate, Pali Dist.		JHARKHAND
14	Stromatolite Fossil Park, Jharmarkotra Rock Phosphate deposit, Udaipur Dist.	30	Plant Fossil bearing Inter-trappean beds of Rajmahal Formation, upper Gondwana sequence around Mandro, Sahibganj dist.
15	Gossan in Rajpura-Dariba Mineralised belt, Udaipur Dist.		NAGALAND
16	Stromatolite Park near Bhojunda, Chittaurgarh Dist.	31	Nagahill Ophiolite Site near Pungro,
17	Akal Fossil Wood Park, Jaisalmer Dist.		SIKKIM
		32	Stromatolite bearing Dolomite / Limestone of Buxa Formation at Mamley, near Namchi, South district.