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Patna: Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey announced on Friday that significant reserves of lithium and potash have been discovered in Bihar, with four blocks already auctioned and excavation work expected to begin shortly.
Speaking at a workshop on mineral discovery and investment held at the Planetarium Auditorium in Patna, Dubey said the new finds would play a critical role in India’s push towards self-sufficiency in key minerals by 2047. He emphasised that minerals such as lithium, potash and copper are essential for the country’s electronic and energy future and that the central government, along with state governments, is encouraging private sector participation in the mining sector.
“India currently imports these geological materials, but with the reserves found in Bihar, we aim to reduce dependence and boost domestic production,” Dubey said.
Deputy Chief Minister and Bihar Mines and Geology Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, who also addressed the event, said the state will soon launch online sand sales through the Balu Mitra app to ensure transparency and uniform pricing. He added that stricter enforcement of vehicle load regulations had freed Bihar from overloading issues — a move recently praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sinha highlighted the growth in mineral revenue since Bihar’s separation from Jharkhand. “In 2001–02, Bihar received just Rs 41 crore in mineral revenue. That figure rose to Rs 263 crore in 2009–10 and has now reached Rs 3,569 crore in 2024–25,” he said, adding that Bihar has now gained recognition on India’s mineral map.
The workshop, conducted in three sessions, also saw the participation of Central Government Joint Secretary Vivek Vajpayee, Mines Director Vinod Duhan, and other senior officials.
