L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 645
operations of the Utilisation Branch of the Geological Survey of India in respect of lead, sulphur, wolfram, tin, copper and mineral waters ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A statement is laid on the table.
Statement
Lead.—In 1941-42, a thorough examination was made by the Geological Survey of certain long abandoned leadzinc ore mines in Rajputana. It appeared that the most promising lead-zinc deposits in India were the mines at Zawar in Udaipur State which were at one time worked but have been abandoned for over 100 years. The mineral rights appertained to the Mewar State who had leased them to a commercial firm. As this firm was not in a position to exploit its lease rapidly (and rapid exploration was necessary if assistance was to be given to the war effort) Government decided to buy out their rights and themselves take a lease from the State. This has been done (fair compensation being paid to the commercial firm) and Government are carrying out their exploration under the terms of a lease granted by the Mewar State. Operations began at the end of May,
They have been planned in two stages—(1) a detailed plane-table survey and deep drilling operations to be followed by (2) the opening up of deposits and the erection of a pilot ore-dressing plant as soon as drilling operations establish the workability of the lode. The old workings are being opened up by 4 Adits or headings. One of these headings has encountered a lode of lead-zinc ore which is of wide extent but which is not at present as a whole as rich as is desired. Another heading has entered some old workings which suggests rich ore. The other two headings have still to meet the lode. The progress of these operations has been satisfactory considering the difficulty in obtaining mine stores and machinery. It is not possible at present to say that any of the four headings must necessarily encounter high grade lead ore. They are merely initial operations and until they are fully conducted it would be premature to speculate as to the size and richness of the deposit.