Geological Survey of India refutes reports Bihar has 222.8 MT of gold reserves

The Geological Survey of India on Tuesday said it 'completely disowns... media reports' that claim Bihar's Jamui district has 222.8 million tonnes of gold reserves including 27.6 tonnes of mineral-rich ore.

The GSI said it had 'not estimated any resource of gold deposit in Jamui District, Bihar' and that exploration had only been undertaken for purpose of establishing iron reserves. "... conducted one gold exploration project in 2012/13... to inform that there is no mention of 222.8 million tonnes of gold reserve, including 27.6 tonnes of mineral-rich ore in any of its reports'.

The clarification comes days after a report by news agency PTI said Bihar would permit exploration of gold reserves in Jamui district.

That report claimed: "As per a Geological Survey of India (GSI) survey, around 222.88 million tonnes of gold reserve, including 37.6 tonnes of mineral-rich ore, are present in Jamui district."

The GSI's emphatic statement today is, however, at odds with what union minister Pralhad Joshi told the Lok Sabha in December last year - that Bihar 'as per National Mineral Inventory... is endowed with 222.885 million tonnes (44%) of ore containing 37.6 tonnes of metal'.

Meanwhile, according to PTI, additional chief secretary and mine commissioner Harjot Kaur Bamrah said the Mines and Geology Department would work with GSI and National Mineral Development Corporation to identify and explore possible gold reserves.

The official said analysis of findings indicated presence of gold in areas like Karmatia, Jhajha and Sono districts, and that a consultation process with the aforementioned agencies had begun.

Bamrah also said the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar is likely to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with a central agency, or agencies,for preliminary exploration.

With input from PTI