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To provide for development and regulation of mineral resources in the territorial waters, continental shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and other maritime zones of India, Central Government has enacted the legislation namely 'The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 2002'. A lot of non-living mineral resources are available in our continental shelf / territorial waters. In addition to poly-metallic manganese nodules, occurrences of oil and placer sands are also reported from the off-shore region.
Geological Survey of India (GSI), a subordinate Department under Ministry of Mines and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa have carried out surveys within the EEZ. They have assessed the potential for heavy mineral sands, Oolites & Calcareous sands, highgrade of Lime Mud deposits and phosphatised sediments. Oil and gas are being produced from off-shore regions since long. No commercial exploitation is known for poly-metallic nodules and placer sand at present.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
DS/SCH
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