Mining Secretary visits lithium reserves site, takes review meeting in Reasi

REASI, April 15: Secretary, Mining Amit Sharma, today visited lithium reserves site located in Salal-Haimna area of Reasi district to take first hand account of area and hold a review of the progress made in this behalf by district administration.

He was accompanied by Director Geology & Mining O.P Bhagat, Joint Director Jammu H.L Langeh, District Mineral Officer Reasi Shafiq Ahmed, Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, Sarpanches, and other prominent citizens of the area.

During the site visit, officers of Mining Department disclosed to the Secretary that the demarcation work of the lithium reserves site had been completed few days back which is spread in an area of around three square kilometres and accordingly, revenue department has also completed the task of creation lists of habitations, plantations and others assets falling within these demarcated limits.

The public of the area requested visiting Secretary to ensure that fair compensation is paid to the persons whose assets are coming within the zone of lithium reserves wherein he assured that all care and due diligence shall be shown by the concerned authorities including DC Reasi and her team for ensuring it.

Amit Sharma further mentioned that the UT administration led by Lieutenant Governor J&K and Chief Secretary are looking forward towards taking next steps for Lithium extraction in Reasi at the earliest and already a process has been initiated under their visionary directions towards appointing a transaction advisor and auction platform to carry forward extraction process for this potentially rich reserves of lithium to the tune of 5.9 million tonnes, second highest in the world.

Later, Secretary Mining led a brain storming  meeting alongwith DC Reasi Babila Rukwal and Director Geology & Mining with district officers of different departments to know about the progress made regarding assets identification so that this process goes-on parallel while Government is finalising RR plans towards extraction of this strategic mineral Lithium alongwith deciding towards setting-up metallurgy plants for brining out the end finished product through SEZ for manufacturing plants in Reasi as an end-to-end solution in this domain. This way, this rare discovery of Lithium in J&K can boost-up UT economy exponentially as well as provision ample employment to the jobless local youth here.

Before culminating the trip, Secretary Mining Amit Sharma assured that the Government shall take all possible steps and measures to make this lithium discovery a reality soon and meet the decided timelines for extraction of same, with total support of Union Government in this behalf.