24 Mines Lie Idle in Jammu Kashmir as India Records 1,400 Non-Working Major Mineral Blocks | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has 24 non-working major mineral mines, placing it among the Union Territories and states grappling with prolonged inactivity in the mining sector, the Union Ministry of Mines informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Nationwide, 1,400 major mineral mines are currently idle, raising concerns over lost revenue, stalled regional development and delays in optimal utilisation of natural resources.

The data was shared in response to an unstarred question on idle mines, where the government outlined that Jammu and Kashmir accounts for nearly 1.7 per cent of all non-working major mineral mines in the country. While the number is modest compared to large mineral-producing states such as Tamil Nadu with 347 idle mines and Andhra Pradesh with 282, the figure is significant for a region where mining activity is closely linked to local employment and downstream economic activity.

According to the Ministry of Coal and Mines, the primary reasons for mines remaining non-operational across the country include pending surrender of leases, delays in lapse orders by state governments, lack of economically viable mineral grades, uneconomic operations, non-compliance with statutory requirements, legal disputes, and land acquisition or local issues. These factors also apply to Jammu and Kashmir, where regulatory processes, terrain-related constraints and local concerns have historically slowed mining operations.

The Centre said it has put in place a legal mechanism to address long-idle mines. Under amendments to the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957, any mine that records no production or dispatch for two consecutive years is liable to lapse. States are required to review such cases and re-auction viable mineral blocks, a process that is expected to bring in new operators and revive stalled production. Crucially, under Section 8B of the Act, all valid statutory clearances automatically transfer to the new lessee, a provision intended to cut delays that previously discouraged fresh investment.
On the question of economic losses, the government did not provide a quantified estimate of foregone revenue or increased import dependence arising from idle mines. However, it noted that wherever feasible non-working mines are auctioned, states benefit from auction premiums in addition to royalty, suggesting that prolonged inactivity represents a missed fiscal opportunity for mineral-bearing regions.

Beyond Jammu and Kashmir, the data highlights the uneven spread of idle mines across the country. Southern and central states dominate the list, with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh together accounting for nearly two-thirds of all non-working major mineral mines. By contrast, Ladakh has one idle mine, while Assam and West Bengal have one each, underscoring sharp regional variations in mineral endowment and regulatory outcomes.