Over 6125 million tones of lime stone are available across all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir. In Baramulla, Doda and Kishtiwar areas there are over 160 million tones of gypsum resources available. The same could be used in the manufacturing of cement, fertilizer, filler in paper and paint and also it could pave ways for the establishment of rubber industries in the state.
There are around 500 miliion cubic meters of marble available in the areas of Kupwara, Leh, Kargil and Kishtiwar. Also there are 3000 million cubic meters of granite available in the state.
With Jammu and Kashmir endowed with the variety of mineral re- sources; little is being done on ground to make the state self sufficient and to make this mineral wealth- commercially viable. Figures available informed that the mineral resources are spread across an area of 13334 square kilometers in Jammu and Kashmir, enough to contribute a lot in the state’s economy and to make it self sufficient. It is being reported also that once the government takes appropriate measures in utilizing these resources, the begging bowl syndrome would vanish from this Himalayan region. According to the reports, over 6125 million tones of lime stone are available across all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir. In Baramulla, Doda and Kishtiwar areas there are over 160 million tones of gypsum resources available. The same could be used in the manufacturing of cement, fertilizer, filler in paper and paint and also it could pave ways for the establishment of rubber industries in the state.
There are around 500 miliion cubic meters of marble available in the areas of Kupwara, Leh, Kargil and Kishtiwar. Also there are 3000 mil- lion cubic meters of granite available in the state. In Udampur, Reasi and Rajoori areas, huge quantity of around 8.60 million tones of Bauxite is present- the same could be utilized in the man- ufacture of Aluminum. Magnesite is available in Udam- pur and Reasi- the quantity of which is estimated to be 7.00 million cubic meters- this mineral is used in the refractory bricks for furnaces. In Doda, Ramban, Baramulla and Kutua , there are around 9.60 milion cubic meters of slates available- use- ful in building and pavement stones. 500 million tones of Quantize is available in Anantnag, Kupwara, Kishtiwar, Kutua and Poonch.
The material is used in the manufacturing of cement, glass and stones. Graphite is found in Baramulla with the quantity of 62 million tones. The department of geology and mining established in the year 1960 although provides geotechnical guidance to various government and/ semi-government organizations like district development commissioners, local bodies and other organizations. The details available with the Kashmir Leader reveal that for the detailed geological mapping, a target of 12.00 lakh square meters was given but a mere area of 2.06 lakh square meters have been covered till October 2013. In the same way, the target of 900 cubic meters was set by the de- partment for pitting and trenching, only 77 out of 900 have been covered. 950 samples had to be collected in 2013-14 but till October 2013 just 123 samples have been collected and analyzed.
The department of geology and mining established in the year 1960 although provides geo-technical guidance to various government and/semi-government organizations like district development commissioners, local bodies and other organizations.
