Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash today said the Government would explore and harness the mineral wealth of Jammu and Kashmir to boost the State’s economy. For this, he said State’s Geology and Mining Department and National Mineral Development Corporation will work together to carry out a comprehensive survey in the state.The Minister was addressing a high level meeting held here today to review the progress of various mineral projects including Panthal Magnesite Project.The meeting was informed that work is apace on Rs 202 crore Magnesite project at Panthal in Reasi district in Jammu division, of which, Rs 33 crore have been spent on the execution of civil, power and water works of the project.
It was informed in the meeting that the project is first of its kind in which only local human resource is being used. The meeting was also informed that the project when completed will provide employment opportunities to 250 youth of Jammu and Kashmir.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister urged upon the Chairman NMDC to lend its expertise for extraction of Gypsum from Parlanka Mines and also for exploration of Sapphire from Padder area of the state.
The meeting also discussed threadbare various other issues relating to Magnesite Project Panthal which includes quick disposal of permission from Forest Department.Chairman and Managing Director, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Narinder Kothari and Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Minerals Ltd. Aabid Suhail, projects head Sunjay Kumar Nag and Shakeel Ahmed Rafiqui besides other officers were present in the meeting. (GNS)