Vol. 10 · pages 666–670

645 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 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 1. 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, 1942. 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.

646 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Under peace-time conditions another two years development at the present rate of progress would be advisable before any decision is taken as to the plant required. The Government of India are, however, anxious to secure the earliest possible production in the interests of the war effort. It is hoped that in about three months’ time it will be possible to gauge at least to some extent the character of the ore. Should payable ore have been found at the end of this period, Government will take steps to order and to erect ore-dressing machinery. 2. Sulphur.—On the outbreak of war the Geological Survey of India, as part of its drive for the discovery of menerals required for war purposes, devoted particular attention to sulphur. The most promising occurrence of sulphur in India is in a crater of an extinct volcano at Koh-i-Sultan in Baluchistan. Having carried out the original prospecting and examination of the working of the deposits to the administrative charge of the Supply Department, who established a small mining section under a special officer. The mining operations have however required more technical planning than it was first contemplated and with the formation of the Utilisation Branch of the Geological Survey it was found more convenient that that Branch should take over the mining and this has been done. There are two workable areas at Koh-i-Sultan—(i) Miri—which is higher up, less accessible and has not yet been worked ; and (ii) Batal—which is the deposit at present being worked. Considering quantities of+50 per cent, sulphur ore have been delivered to Indian industry. Proved reserved in the deposit at Batal are now nearing exhaustion in regard to +50 ore though there is still some quantities of lower grade ore and the Utilisation Branch are actively considering opening up the Miri deposits which are expected to be considerably richer than at Batal but there are considerable difficulties in regard to transport. The climate at Koh-i-Sultan, particularly at Miri, is very severe ; extreme cold being experienced during the winter and intense heat and high winds in summer. Labour is consequently difficult to attract. Owing to the

647 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS inaccessibility difficulties are likely to be experienced in the Transport of ore down from Miri, but all possible steps are being taken to overcome them. So far only +50 per cent., sulphur ore has been extracted and the Utilisation Branch is now considering the possibility of opening up lower grade ores and washing the ore near Koh-iSultan to improve its quality. The Utilisation Branch is also carrying out operations to prove some old sulphur mines near Sanni in Kalat State. At present boring operations are in progress there. 3. Wolfram.—The Utilisation Branch has been exploring two small deposits of wolfram-one in the Bankura district of Bengal and the other in the Nagpur District, C. P. A. certain quantity of wolfram has been extracted from the former deposit and supplied to the Supply Department. This deposit is not particularly attractive as the wolfram occurs dispersed in the rock reef and must be extracted therefrom. Quite a steady output has, however, been obtained from several scattered old low grade occurrences and it is now being considered whether machinery should be installed. The deposit in the Central Provinces is even poorer than that in Bengal. Owing, however, to the great value of wolfram for the war this deposit too is being further investigated and it is hoped to extract a certain quantity of wolfram. The principal occurrence of wolfram in India occurs in Jodhpur State and these mines are being worked by the Jodhpur Government. At the request of the State authorities the Utilisation Branch is giving every assistance by means of technical advice where required and in the supply of machinery. 4. Tin.—The Utilisation Branch has concentrated on a possible workable occurrence of tin ore in India in the Hazaribagh District of Bihar. Samples taken from the dump heaps show that tin ore has been worked in this area extensively. Efforts are being made to open up the old mines which appear to have extended deeply but are now filled with water. De-watering operations are now in progress, but have been hampered up to date by lack of or proper pumping equipments. Efforts are being made to secure pumping machinery. 5. Copper.—The Utilisation Branch have investigated the possibility of re-opening an abandoned copper mine in Bihar. These old mines

648 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES will also require de-watering and extensive underground survey and assays will have to be made before it will be possible to state whether they are workable. One or two other copper occurrences are also being investigated. They appear rather disappointing, but if assays are good, further exploration will be made. 6. Mineral waters.—The Geological Survey has made an exhaustive examination of the mineral springs in India and for the last 18 months experimented with 6 types of’ ‘Indian spring’ Waters. They have been bottled as Red label (acid), White label (neutral), Green label (neutral), Blue label (Gastein), Blue label (Axis-les-Bains) and Yellow label (Vichy) types. The Red, White and Blue (Gastein) waters have been found to be efficatious and steps have been taken to bottle them for trial on a larger scale but arrangements have still to be made with the proprietors. The commercial aspect of these waters, both for Table mineral waters as well as for their valuable medical properties, is also under consideration. 79 * Provision of Taps and for Unfiltered Water in Compounds of Orthodox Quarters in New Delhi 468. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali : (a) Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware: (i) That sometime back his predecessor promised to provide taps for unfiltered water in the compounds or courtyards of the orthodox quarters of the ministerial establishment in New Delhi but later on decided to keep the taps already installed outside the quarters open during the last summer months which concession was withdrawn during the last summer owing to thefts of the connection-locks ; (ii) that sort of arrangement was most inconvenient and in many cases the water had to be carried to the quarters from great distances by ladies and children in the sun during the summer months ; and (iii) that there are fairly big compounds in front of the quarters which can be usefully used by the tenants for growing vegetables * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1943, 2nd April 1943, pp. 1733-34.

649 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS and other things in accordance with the Government propaganda for growing more food ? (b) Does the Honourable Member propose to consider the desirability of having unfiltered water taps installed in the courtyard of each quarter as in the case of unorthodox quarters ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) (i). Presumably the Honourable Member is referring to the reply given by my predecessor to starred question No. 230 asked by Bhai Parma Nand in this House on the 28th February, 1940. My predecessor did not promise to provide taps for unfiltered water in the compound or courtyards of the orthodox clerks quarters in New Delhi and he stated that he was considering the desirability of doing so. It was decided to keep the hydrants (and not taps) in front of these quarters open during the summer months and to fix some mechanical contrivance on the hydrants, and this arrangement was continued during the last summer season except in cases where the attachment was either damaged or stolen. (ii) I cannot say that the arrangement was most inconvenient. (iii) Yes. (b) No. In view of the financial stringency and non-availability of the material the question of providing unfiltered water taps in the courtyards of these quarters cannot be considered until normal times. I may mention for the information of the Honourable Member that taps have not been provided in the courtyards of the unorthodox clerks quarters and that the mechanical devices similar to the one fixed on the hydrants in front of the orthodox clerks quarters has been provided on the hydrants in the orthodox quarters. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : May I know from the Honourable Member what is the free allowance of water given to these orthodox quarters ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I would like to have notice of that. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : In view of the fact that the Government is not able to give them unfiltered water now, will the Honourable Member consider the question of increasing the free supply of filtered water to 10,000 gallons. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I will consider that.