Barinder Goyal chairs high level review meeting with GSI & state officers

Chandigarh- With the objective of fast tracking potash exploration in the State and addressing India’s heavy reliance on imported Potash, Punjab Government has intensified efforts to strengthen domestic mineral resources critical for agriculture. The high level review meeting was convened to take stock of progress identify future priorities and firm up timelines for exploration across key potash bearing regions of Punjab.

Punjab Mining and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal chaired the meeting at the Punjab Civil Secretariat here with senior officers of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) which included Deputy Director General (Punjab Himachal and Haryana) Shrimati Gupta, Directors Sushree Mishra and Aprajeeta Bhatacharji and officers of the Department of Mines and Geology Punjab Chief Engineer Hardeep Singh Mehndiratta and Assistant Geologist Sh. Paras Mahajan.

The meeting reviewed the status of completed exploration blocks ongoing drilling activities during Field Season 2025-26 and proposed reconnaissance and preliminary exploration programmes for Field Season 2026-27 with special focus on Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts where significant potash potential has been identified.

Briefing the Minister, the GSI informed that G4 stage exploration has been completed in Qabarwala Block and Shergarh-Dalmirkhera Block, with geological memorandums already handed over to the State Government. Following State consent, an amalgamated Shergarh-Sherawala-Ramsara-Dalmirkhera block has been put to auction for Composite Licence in the sixth tranche by the Ministry of Mines, with results awaited. It was further shared that drilling is underway in Rajpura-Rajawali Block and Gidranwali-Azimgarh Block at six sites, of which five have been completed and final reports are expected by April after chemical analysis.

For the upcoming Field Season 2026-27, GSI proposed reconnaissance surveys in Kera-Khera Block and Saiyadwala Block of Fazilka district, along with preliminary exploration in Kandhwala-Ramsra Block, covering fifteen drilling sites.

Responding to the Minister’s query on full basin coverage, the officers of the GSI informed that the entire evaporite basin of Punjab is being surveyed through geophysical methods and an area of about fifty square kilometre has already been identified for detailed exploration, for which Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited will submit a project to the Ministry.

Appreciating the sustained and scientific efforts, Goyal directed that all ongoing drilling and mapping work during Field Season 2025-26 be expedited and proposed blocks for 2026-27 be completed strictly on schedule. He also directed monthly review meetings between the Department of Mines and Geology Punjab and GSI to ensure close monitoring and timely handover of additional promising blocks, besides planning future feasibility studies for mining.

Highlighting the larger public interest, the Minister said, “Potash is a critical input for agriculture and today India imports nearly 99 percent of its requirement. Any success in potash exploration and future production in Punjab will directly benefit our farmers, strengthen national food security and give a major push to the State and national economy. Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government is fully committed to supporting every scientific effort that helps the country move towards self-reliance in this vital mineral.”