Punjab questions Centre apathy on exploration of potash reserves

“This glaring disparity was formally raised during a recent all-India mining and geology ministers’ conclave in Odisha. I brought this critical matter to the attention of Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, who invited me to visit the site and subsequently meet him in Delhi for comprehensive discussions,” he said.

“For the past two and a half months, I have been diligently requesting the Union Minister, but have not yet received a confirmed appointment. While political considerations have their place, this transcends partisanship and represents a matter of profound national importance,” he added.

“Potash is a crucial mineral that is not found elsewhere in the country. Currently, India imports 100 per cent of its potash requirements, which significantly depletes our foreign exchange reserves,” he said, adding with reserves found in Punjab, huge money can be saved. “But this is their treatment. They do not want to extract it from Punjab. We can generate substantial revenue if we start mining Potash.”

In February, Goyal had said extensive surveys led to the discovery of large potash reserves in three mining blocks in southwest Punjab. The locations where potash deposits have been found include Kabarwala block (Muktsar Sahib), Sherewala and Ramsara block (Fazilka), Shergarh and Dalmir Khera block (Fazilka), he had said.

Sources in the department said Kabarwala block has reserves of 5.98 million tonnes of Potash and its average grade was 3.9 per cent. Sherewala-Shergarh-Kikrawali area has reserves of 194.58 million tonnes having average grade of 4.69 per cent while Shergarh- Dalmir Khera block has reserves of 202.45 million tonnes, with average grade of 3.42 per cent.

He explained that potash extraction would occur about 450 metres below the surface, with minimal disruption to agricultural activities. The test drilling required only a negligible portion of land, one evaluation site utilised just a fraction of a 25-acre agricultural plot, he pointed out. The survey in Punjab was conducted by Geological Survey of India (GSI) in 2021.

However, after that no step was taken towards extraction.

A geological expert however said that the average grade of Potash found in Punjab was below 10 per cent. It was not economical to drill 450 meters to extract Potash which had thin grade.

“This is not economical. It would require a huge wherewithal to dig so deep. And the reserves will have low grade. Hence, the extraction was put on hold,” said a Geologist.

Ministers unveil forms for landowner mining sites

Meanwhile, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the new mining policy fundamentally shifts the control of sand and gravel resources directly into the hands of the people, effectively curbing corruption and significantly increasing state revenue.

Cheema, along with Goyal, unveiled standardised online application forms for landowner mining sites and crusher mining sites on the official Punjab mining portal.

Cheema said the key highlight of the new policy is the empowerment of landowners as under this revamped framework, landowners will now have the direct right to mine sand and gravel on their own land without the need for auctions.
“We are committed to ensuring complete transparency and accountability in the mining sector, in contrast to the previous SAD-BJP and Congress regimes that encouraged illegal mining to fill their coffers,” Cheema said.