As reported in Business Standard, the Union Mines Ministry, Government of India has instated on Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) survey of Kutrumali and Sijimali bauxite deposits before grant of mining lease to Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
Since L&T already has a subsisting prospecting license over these twin deposits, it is hopeful to bag them. Both Kutrumali and Sijimali, spread across Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, have combined reserve of 300 million tonne of bauxite.
L&T had won prospecting license for Sijimali and Kutrumali bauxite mines in 1992. But the PL had expired two years later, after which the state government had denied ML to L&T since it had no end-use plant.
“The ministry has asked us to commission the DGPS survey of Kutrumali and Sijimali bauxite deposits. The survey is ongoing and we hope to send the report to the ministry after its completion. Apart from the survey, there is no other roadblock for L&T to get the ML”, said an official source.