The Karnataka government has approved a proposal from the Centre to revive gold mining and auction 13 tailing dumps at Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). The Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML), which owns the mines at KGF, will oversee the project.
Details of the Proposal
- Area and Ownership: The project spans 1,003.4 acres of land owned by BGML.
- Tailing Dumps: There are 13 tailing dumps containing approximately 33 million tonnes of extraction waste.
- Gold Yield: It is estimated that one tonne of dump yields one gram of gold upon processing.
Legal and Administrative Steps
- Approval Process: The proposal was cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet under column 17 of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, 1957.
- BGML Status: BGML, a PSU established in 1972, ceased operations in 2001 and is being revived to boost domestic gold production.
Economic and Social Impact
- Employment: Reviving mining operations is expected to generate significant employment opportunities in the KGF region.
- Industrial Park Development: Additionally, areas identified without mineral resources will be handed over to the Karnataka government for developing a 3,000-acre industrial park.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Who owns the mines at Kolar Gold Fields (KGF)?
- A) Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB)
- B) Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML)
- C) Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (MECL)
- D) Karnataka Government
- Answer: B) Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML)
- Under which act did the Karnataka government approve the proposal for reviving gold mining at KGF?
- A) Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
- B) Environment Protection Act, 1986
- C) Industrial Development Act, 2001
- D) Gold Mines Revival Act, 2010
- Answer: A) Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
- How much land area is proposed for developing an industrial park at KGF?
- A) 1,003.4 acres
- B) 33 million tonnes
- C) 3,000 acres
- D) 13 tailing dumps
- Answer: C) 3,000 acres
- What is the estimated yield of gold from one tonne of tailing dumps at KGF?
- A) One tonne
- B) One gram
- C) One kilogram
- D) One pound
- Answer: B) One gram
- When did the Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML) cease operations?
- A) 2015
- B) 2001
- C) 1972
- D) 2020
- Answer: B) 2001