Modi, Amit Shah want JK to become mineral state, says GoI minister G Kishan Reddy

Jammu: Government of India’s Coal and Mines minister, G Kishan Reddy on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah want Jammu and Kashmir to become a “mineral state.” During the launch event, Omar Abdullah and Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary were present.

Talking to reporters on his arrival in Jammu for e-auction of Limestone mineral blocks in J&K, Reddy, according to the news agency Kashmir News Observer, said, “This limestone mineral blocks auction is happening for the first time in J&K.

Modi and Amit Shah want to create more and more employment opportunities for the J&K people and increase mineral activity here, he said.

A total of seven limestone blocks, covering approximately 314 hectares, have been identified across the districts of Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch.

Categorised under UNFC G3 and G4 exploration stages, these deposits hold considerable potential for high-quality limestone critical to cement manufacturing, construction, and other industrial applications.

The auction was conducted under subsections (4) and (5) of Section 11 of the MMDR Act, enabling the government of India to facilitate the process in cases where State or Union Territory administrations face procedural limitations.

This initiative, as per the Ministry of Mines, is expected to pave the way for job creation, revenue growth, industrial expansion, and new economic opportunities for local communities.

The Ministry of Mines, in an official statement, has described the event as a “milestone that marks a significant step in advancing the mining reforms introduced under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) in 2015.”