Srinagar, May 27: Minister for Industries & Commerce, S S Slathia today said an extensive exercise for exploration of base metal items like Zinc, Copper and Iron besides industrial minerals would be undertaken from the current year to give boost to mineral based industries in J&K.
The prospecting would be undertaken in collaboration with the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
Reviewing performance of the Geology and Mining Department, at a high level meeting today, the Minister said J&K is bestowed with vast treasure of natural minerals which needs to be exploited fully to bring a wide ranging socio-economic transformation in the State.
The Minister said that huge reserves of best quality marble and granite available in the state should be exploited adding that the Geology & Mining Department should switch over to open bidding / tendering for this purpose.
The Minister asked the Director Geology & Mining to fix targets for exploration of maximum reserves of Gypsum, lime stone, marble, granite, bauxite, dolomite, coal, lignite which exists in abundance in the State.
The minister was informed that 79 mineral blocks and 32 stone quarry belts have been carved out in Kashmir division and 40 minor mineral blocks in Jammu division. “The construction of a modern Mineral Testing Lab at Ompora, Budgam has been taken up at a cost or Rs. 55.76 lakhs.”
Meanwhile, it was informed that G&M department proposes to set up seismic labs in Tangdar, Kupwara, Rajouri, Sonamarg, Beerwa, Budgam where as such labs being established at University campuses of Jammu, Poonch, Bani, Kathua and Dooru, Islamabad (Anantnag) also.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 IST