Punjab Mines, Geology and Water Resources Minister Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal today held an important meeting with Union Coal and Mines Minister Mr. G. Kishan Reddy at Shastri Bhawan here regarding the early completion of the survey work related to potash in the state.
During the meeting, Mr. Goyal told the Union Minister that potash is a rare mineral, to meet its needs, India has to import it from outside. He said that deposits of this mineral have been found in the areas of districts Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka of Punjab. He demanded from the Union Minister that there is a need to complete the geo survey as soon as possible to highlight the full potential in this regard in the state. Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal, while talking to the media after the meeting, said that serious efforts are being made by Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Mr. Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann for the all-round development of the state. As part of these efforts, the Punjab government is in constant touch with the central government to get the potash survey done soon so that the country can become self-reliant in terms of potash and the state’s economy can be further strengthened through this. The Cabinet Minister said that during the meeting, Union Minister Mr. Reddy has given a positive and constructive response to the state’s demand. He said that the Union Minister has directed the senior officers of his department to prepare an action plan in this regard so that the survey work in the areas falling in Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka districts can be completed as soon as possible. Mr. Goyal said that the existence of potash reserves in Punjab was known in 1985 itself, but the state governments formed after that turned a blind eye to this important aspect, due to which the survey and drilling work could not be done as per the requirement. He said that the Punjab government is making serious efforts to expedite the work related to the exploration of this mineral, which will enable more resources to be mobilized for the progress of the state. Mr. Goel said that he had earlier met Mr. Reddy in Odisha regarding potash. Mr. Goel said that at present drilling has been done only at 10 places in Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts and the survey will reveal the reserves of this mineral in other areas as well.
He said that with the discovery of potash reserves in the state, Punjab will make a significant contribution to its own progress as well as to making India self-reliant in this regard. He said that Punjab made the country self-reliant in terms of food after contributing to the country’s independence and later, and now it is hoped that this state will also make a significant contribution in terms of minerals. Mr. Barinder Kumar Goel said that he also apprised the Union Minister about other problems faced by the mining sector, on which Union Minister Mr. G. Kishan Reddy said that a joint meeting of central and state officials will be held in Punjab soon and a strategy will be drawn up to resolve these issues.
Mr. Goyal thanked the Union Minister for his positive response on issues related to the mining sector, including the preparation of an action plan for the survey of potash in Punjab. On this occasion, Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal was accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Mines and Geology, Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar and Director Mr. Abhijit Kaplish.
