Punjab’s Cabinet Minister Mining and Water Resources, Barinder Kumar Goyal, announced a major breakthrough in potash mining, stating that the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has successfully positioned Punjab as a leading state in mineral exploration. Extensive surveys have led to the discovery of large potash reserves in three mining blocks in Southwest Punjab.
Addressing a press conference, Minister Goyal revealed that India currently imports 50 lakh (5 million) tonnes of potash annually, primarily used in fertilizers and industrial applications. However, with the newly identified reserves in Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka districts, Punjab has become the first state in the country to have significant potash deposits.
The key locations have been found which include Kabarwala block (Muktsar Sahib),Sherewala & Ramsara block (Fazilka), Shergarh & Dalmir Khera block (Fazilka).
No Land Acquisition Required; Environmentally Safe Extraction
Minister Goyal addressed public concerns by clarifying that no land acquisition will take place, and no harm will come to agricultural land. The potash extraction will be conducted using an advanced drilling system, ensuring zero impact on land ownership. Additionally, the government is conducting a thorough environmental and social impact assessment before starting operations.
He further stated that the mining industry in Punjab will create new employment opportunities and drive regional economic development. The potash deposits are located at a depth of 450 meters, and preliminary surveys indicate that adjacent areas may also have substantial reserves, prompting continued exploration.
Economic Boost for Punjab; Royalties to the State
Minister Goyal emphasized that this initiative aligns with Arvind Kejriwal’s vision of making Punjab economically self-reliant through mining. Although the auctioning rights rest with the Central Government, the royalty revenue will directly benefit Punjab.
The state government has already given approval for mining in the Kabarwala block, and once the auction process is completed by the Central Government, extraction will commence.
Future Plans & Revenue Generation
Responding to media queries, Minister Goyal revealed that the three potash blocks cover approximately 18 square kilometers, with further exploration underway in surrounding areas. He also shared that in 2024, Punjab earned ₹288 crore from sand and gravel mining, and 104 new mining sites will be make operational soon.
Furthermore, 27 locations along Punjab’s rivers have been identified for sand mining to boost the state's revenue. Officials and Dignitaries Present accompanying Minister Goyal at the event were MLA Narinder Pal Singh Sawna (Fazilka), MLA Amandeep Singh Goldy Musafir (Balluana), MLA Jagdeep Goldy Kamboj (Jalalabad), Director of Mining, Abhijeet Kaplish,Geological Survey of India Director, Soyam Ranjan Mahapatra, Deputy Commissioner, Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu,SSP Varinder Singh Brar,Executive Engineer, Jagsir Singh, and Supervising Engineer, Rajan Dhingra, Earlier in the day, Minister Goyal visited Sherewala and Shergarh villages to inspect the sites where potash reserves have been discovered.