Kumar Bahukhandi
Secretary to the Chief Minister and Secretary of Mineral Resources Department, P. Dayanand addressing the inaugural session of the workshop -Photo Credit-CG-PR
In Short
*Purpose of workshop – Possibility of speeding up investment and industrial development in Chhattisgarh
Raipur: Under the guidance of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, a one-day state level workshop was organised in the convention hall of New Circuit House in the capital Raipur on Wednesday June 25, 2025 regarding systematic exploration of minerals available in Chhattisgarh.
Addressing the inaugural session of the workshop, Secretary to the Chief Minister and Secretary of Mineral Resources Department, P. Dayanand said that Chhattisgarh is a rich state full of mineral wealth, where 28 types of major minerals like coal, limestone, dolomite, iron ore, bauxite, tin ore as well as minerals of strategic and nuclear importance like lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements are available in abundance.
P Dayanand informed that this workshop has been organised with the aim of giving more impetus to the efforts being conducted under the National Program on Exploration Strategy and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET). Its objective is to ensure active participation of national exploration agencies and take concrete steps towards speedy implementation of strategic mineral projects in the state.
All the participants stressed the need for joint efforts and long-term strategic approach for mineral-based sustainable industrial development- Photo Credit -CG-PR
The workshop was jointly organised by the Department of Mineral Resources and Chhattisgarh Geology and Mining Directorate. Its objective was to encourage scientific exploration techniques for proper exploitation of India’s critical minerals potential, to technically strengthen the proposal submission system and to ensure effective participation of the state in national level strategic exploration policies.
In the technical sessions of the workshop, Ravikant Gupta of Geological Survey of India elaborated on the geological features of Chhattisgarh and the possibilities of OGP areas.
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar of Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited gave a presentation based on modern geophysical and geochemical techniques for exploration of minerals like lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, tungsten, phosphate, which gave the officials information about the latest methods. Akshay Verma from NMET shared information on the proposal preparation process, financial assistance and grant policies, highlighted the opportunities available under NMET and emphasised the need for more active participation of the state.
Emphasis on Chhattisgarh’s role in the global mineral supply chain
Experts at the workshop said that Chhattisgarh’s mineral diversity and quality can make it an important link in the global mineral supply chain. They suggested that the state can lead mineral-based industrial development by establishing a balance between mineral production, market demand and future prospects.
In the closing session, the mineral surveys conducted so far in the state, their findings and proposed projects were reviewed. Officials emphasised the need to further strengthen technical efficiency and inter-departmental coordination. Senior officials of the Directorate of Geology and Mining said that mineral resources are the basic foundation of economic progress of any state.
The workshop made it vary clear that by adopting transparent, technically competent and timely processes, Chhattisgarh can not only attract private and public investment, but can also play a leading role in the National Strategic Mineral Policy.
All the participants stressed the need for joint efforts and long-term strategic approach for mineral-based sustainable industrial development.
On the occasion, Prof. Sahendra Singh of IIT Dhanbad, Prem Prakash of IBM, Director Rajat Bansal, Joint Director Anurag Dewan and Sanjay Kankane along with various central and state level agencies, research institutes, policy advisors and technical experts participated in the workshop.
