Karnataka is eagerly anticipating good news from Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) on its lithium reserves in Mandya district after hearing that the federal government is prepared to conduct commercial exploration of the rare mineral lithium in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the hype surrounding the discovery of lithium reserves between 2020 and February 2021, the relevant authorities have made no notable progress in this area. In Karnataka, the latest development has sparked renewed optimism.
AMD has conducted preliminary surface and limited subsurface surveys that have revealed the existence of 1,600 tonnes of lithium deposits in the pegmatites of the Marlagalla-Allapatna area in the Mandya district of Karnataka.
According to sources, AMD, a division of the Department of Atomic Energy under the federal government, is also doing lithium exploration in several areas of the Karnataka district of Yadgir.
Experts disagree, saying that economic viability needs to be determined. The government will benefit greatly if the lithium exploration is successful because the Indian vehicle industry is moving towards electric mobility.
The significance and quantity of lithium deposits in the Marlagalla-Allapatna area, Mandya district, Karnataka, may only be established after the conclusion of exploration in the entire area, according to Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh.
Following technical, social, and economic feasibility assessments in the region, planning for commercial exploitation of the lithium deposits can start, he said.
"Preliminary surveys on the surface and limited subsurface exploration by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) have shown the presence of lithium resources of 1,600 tonnes (inferred category) in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district in Karnataka," said Union Minister of Mines Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
In February 2020, Mandya district revenue officials performed an inspection in the areas surrounding Srirangapatna in light of study papers on the existence of lithium.
Subsequently, Deputy Commissioner Venkatesh and other officials went to Alapatna, which is close to Srirangapatna, because there had been allegations of deposits over a small area of land. After visiting a few settlements, the authorities are still expecting more information from the Department of Atomic Energy and other sources.
He claimed that the Atomic Minerals Directorate's researchers had discovered lithium reserves close to Mandya. In a tiny area of land studied in Mandya, the reserves were calculated at 14,100 tonnes and were reported in the journal Current Science.
