Secretary, Mining, Amit Sharma, today visited lithium reserves site located in Salal-Haimna area of Reasi district and held a review regarding progress made in this regard by the district administration.
He was accompanied by Director Geology & Mining, O.P Bhagat, Joint Director, Jammu H.L Langeh, District Mineral Officer, Reasi, Shafiq Ahmed, Tehsildar, Sarpanches, and prominent citizens of the area.
During the site visit, the officers informed that the demarcation work on the lithium reserves site has been completed few days back which is spread in an area of around three square kilometres.
Accordingly, revenue department has also completed the task of creation of lists of habitations, plantations and others assets falling within these demarcated limits, he added.The public of the area requested the Secretary to ensure that fair compensation is paid to the persons whose assets are coming within the zone of lithium reserves.
Secretary assured that all care and due diligence shall be shown by the concerned authorities including DC Reasi and her team for ensuring it.Amit Sharma further mentioned that the UT administration led by Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary are looking forward towards taking next steps for Lithium extraction in Reasi at the earliest.
He added that the process has already been initiated under their visionary directions towards appointing a transaction advisor and auction platform to carry forward extraction process for this potentially rich reserves of lithium to the tune of 5.9 million tonnes, second highest in the world.
Later, Secretary convened a meeting with DC Reasi, Babila Rukwal and Director Geology & Mining besides district officers of different departments to review progress made regarding assets identification so that this process goes-on parallel while Government is finalising RR plans towards extraction of this strategic mineral Lithium.
This way, this rare discovery of Lithium in J&K can boost-up UT economy exponentially besides creating ample employment to the jobless local youth here.Secretary assured that the Government shall take all possible steps and measures to make this lithium discovery a reality soon and meet the decided timelines for extraction of same, with total support from Union Government.