KATHMANDU, MAY 22

The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has issued licenses for the exploration and prospecting of 420 mines.

It has issued this many permits for the exploration of possible mines so far as of the current fiscal year, said Narayan Banskota, the Department's Information Officer. Banskota said licenses have been provided for exploration of iron ore, copper, gold, limestone, granite, ruby, dolomite, among other minerals.

The Department had issued licenses for exploration of 405 mines. It has given permit for quarrying 159 mines until the current fiscal year and for quarrying 158 mines.

The Department said permit has also been given for opening a mine for the exploration of iron ore at Dhaubadi of Nawalparasi.

The Department has identified 50 mines so far and issued licenses to different companies for their operation.

Department's Director General Dr Sudheer Rajaure shared that the Department has carried out exploration of mines at more than 10 places this year alone.

According to him, study is underway for iron ore at Luhakot of Sankhuwasabha, for copper at Dingla of Bhojpur, for granite at Khaniyakharka of Sindhuli, for dolomite at Sunaula Bazaar and for Ruby at Ganesh Himal of Dhading, for copper in Rukum, for iron ore at Ratuwamai of Udayapur, for ceramics in Madhes Province and for limestone at Benighat of Dhading.

Although the Department has been carrying out feasibility study of mines at several places of the country each year, it takes years since their reports are available due to the shortage of scientists at its lab. The Department's lab has 11 allocated positions, but only two are working there at present. The report of the mine whose study was conducted in 2015 has not been prepared till date due to the same reason.

The Department has collected revenue totaling Rs 356 million 633 thousand 44 till March 14 of the current fiscal year through issuance of licenses and permits for mine exploration. It had collected Rs 934 million 500 thousand as of mid-March last year.