Achievements
................During
the time of UNDP assistance to the Department, ( a separate
Project viz. Kerala Mineral Exploration and Development
Project was established in 1977 and merged with the Department
in 1996) a regional geochemical survey was conducted over
an area of 16,000 sq.km. Stream sediment samples were collected
and analysed for various chemical constituents. Tungsten
occurrence was discovered in Attappadi area of Palakkad
District. Some rock of tungsten ( scheelite mineral ) was
found out. The deposit is of academic nature and further
lateral extension of this occurrence is not found to occur.
................The
erstwhile KMED Project also carried out mapping of gold
prospect at Maruda in Malappuram District. In this area,
a total of 50 boreholes were drilled to an aggregate depth
of 5250 metres. The grade of gold is 4 g/tonne.
................Surveys
were conducted for graphite at Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki
districts. Sizable occurrences of graphite are identified
by doing detailed exploration, viz. mapping, pitting, trenching
and drilling.
................Gemstone
bearing areas were surveyed and samples anaylsed. Chrysoberyl
and its varieties- cat's eye and alexandrite are found to
occur in pegmatites(primary) and gravel beds (secondary).
Facilities acquired from UNDP assistance in the filed of
gem testing is made available to the public.A detailed exploration
on lignite was carried out at Madayi area of Kannur district.
A total of 30 trenches were drilled. A total reserve of
5.40 million tonnes of lignite has been proved. The Kerala
State Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (KEMDEL) has
arranged the preparation of detailed project report on the
basis of the exploration work conducted by the KMEDP in
Madayi area for a mining project of lignite and china clay.The
Department extended the survey for lignite in parts of Kasargod
district and identified lignite bearing blocks in Kadamkottumala,
Nileswaram-
................Palayi
and Kayyur- Klayikodu areas and the total reserves of lignite
estimated tentatively are of the order of 4 million tonnes.Besides,
exploration in Madai area in Kannur district carried out
by KMEDP established a sizable reserve of china clay of
ceramic grade and resources in the order of 10 million tonnes.The
Department conducted detailed exploration for high grade
china clays in Thonnakkal, Veilur, Pallippuram and Andoorkonam,
villages in Thiruvananthapuram Taluk and Azhoor village
of Chirayinkeezhu Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district.
Ten potential blocks for high grade china clay were identified
in the above areas and the total reserves estimated in the
order of 38 million tonnes. The exploration work in these
areas by the Department has augmented the resources of high
grade china clay suiting to paper coating and filling purpose.
The exploration in Madayi area, Kannur district has established
a large reserve of 17 million tonnes of china clay suiting
to the grade of ceramic industry.
Achievements
and success stories of the Department
This
Division continued to implement effectively the provisions
of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act,
1957 and the rules made there under. Mineral concessions
for major minerals were given in accordance with the provisions
in the said Act and the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.
and those for minor minerals are sanctioned as per
the KMMC Rules, 1967. The various mineral concessions in
force as on 31.3.2003 are as follows:
Mining
Lease: 91
| Bauxite |
3 |
China Clay |
38 |
| China
Clay/ Ball clay/ Fire Clay |
1 |
Lime shell |
7
|
| Limestone |
1 |
Graphite |
1 |
| Mineral
sand |
3 |
Silica sand |
34 |
| Quartz |
2 |
Laterite |
1 |
Besides 23 quarrying permits were issued to the Lime shell
Co-operative societies and individuals for the collection
and sales of lime shell from Vembanad Lake.
Quarrying
Lease: 325
Out
of this 48 leases are for Dimension stones. During 2002-03,
Forty quarrying leases were issued.
Quarrying
Permits: 1588
Dealers
License: 564
Revenue
collection for the last 5 years are given below:
| Year
|
Major
Mineral |
Minor
mineral |
Total
(Rs) |
| 1997-98
|
39464594
|
48990276 |
88454870 |
| 1998-99
|
42431948
|
73851874 |
116283822
|
| 1999-00
|
49406183
|
94415148 |
143821331
|
| 2000-01
|
54268566
|
109210196
|
163478762
|
| 2001-02
|
48240167
|
109333104
|
157573271
|
Kerala
Mineral Squad:
Two
units of Kerala Mineral Squad are attached to the Mineral
Development and Mining Leases Division. Kerala Mineral Squad
(Northern Region) and (Southern Region) were established
with the prime intention of curbing illegal mining and clandestine
movement of minerals on the basis of the provisions in the
Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957
and rules made there under.
The
functioning of the squads during the year 2002-03 is summarized
below:
Kerala
Mineral Squad (Northern Region):
Area
of jourisdiction: Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode,
Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod Districts.
The squad inspected the quarries / mines falling under their
area of jurisdiction very frequently. A total number of
314 cases were compounded collecting an amount of
Rs 17,56,500.
Kerala
Mineral Squad (Southern Region):
Area
of jurisdiction: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta,
Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki Eranakulam and Thrissur Districts.
The
conducted extensive tours in all the Districts and detected
352 cases of illegal mining and clandestine movement of
minerals and collected Rs 22,10,000 by way of compounding.
Consequent
to the awareness created by the frequent inspections by
the squads, many people could be persuaded to come forwarded
to obtain mineral concessions.
