Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallik revealed that these three districts contain gold reserves on Monday in the Legislature, much to the pleasure of the residents of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Deogarh.
Dimirimunda, Kushakala, Gotipur, and Gopur in the Keonjhar district; Joshipur, Suriaguda, Ruansila, and Dhushura Hill in the Mayurbhanj district; and Adas region in the Deogarh district all have gold deposits, Minister Mallik informed the Assembly.
A new glimmer of hope has appeared for the people of Odisha as a result of the Minister’s declaration regarding the occurrence of gold in the three districts.
In actuality, the 1980s saw the first survey for the gold resource in the Keonjhar district. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had carried out the survey in places like Kushakala, Goppur, and Jaladiha villages under Taramakant and Nayakote Panchayats in Keonjhar district’s Banasapal block using the technologies available at the time. The survey’s results, nevertheless, remained a secret.
Then, in 2021–2022, the GSI conducted another study in those areas in the Keonjhar district using the most up-to-date technologies. The GSI authorities remained mum about the survey’s findings at that time as well.
But, in light of the Steel and Mines Minister’s remarks in the House, the residents of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Deogarh are in a pickle.
Prasanta Patnaik