Jammu, March 30: The process for mining 5.9 million tons of huge lithium reserves discovered in Reasi has been started as the government has initiated the survey work in the district in the 3.5 sq km area where the non-ferrous metal was found.
“The survey for demarcation of the land/area has been started in Reasi where the lithium reserves were discovered,” Director, Geology and Mining, OP Bhagat told Rising Kashmir, adding that the report will be submitted to the Government of India.
The research work for discovering lithium in Reasi was done in the 3.5 sq km area or in other words the mammoth 5.9 million tons of lithium reserves were found in the 3.5 sq km area of the district. There are houses, some schools, roads, etc in this area.
“The survey has been started to ascertain how much government land, private land, roads, schools, houses, etc are there in this 3.5 sq km area,” the Director said, adding, “After the entire demarcation, a detailed report will be submitted to the Government of India which will then take a final call as to how to compensate the people and whether or not they have to be relocated or not, and if people have to be shifted then where to shift them.”
All these things will have to be decided by the GoI before starting the mining of lithium, he added.
An official said that lithium reserves found in Reasi will not only give a mammoth economic boost to Jammu & Kashmir but will also open up floodgates of employment for the youth of the Union Territory.
“Once we e-auction the lithium and start getting the royalty, the economy of J&K will get a major boost and many mega projects will also come up which will provide employment to the youth of J&K in bulk,” the official said.
He said J&K will be on the world map now and will be exporting Lithium to many countries across the world.
This is for the first time that lithium reserves have been found in J&K. So far, India had been importing lithium to meet its requirements.
Lithium, also known as white gold, is a non-ferrous metal and is used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles. It is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for heart pacemakers, toys and clocks.
