MINERAL RESOURCES
The most important mineral potential possibility of Tripura is oil and
natural gas. There were several gas seepages near Ampi Bazar, Saikhanbari
headwaters of the Channel, Chara stream and about 2 Km. W.N.W of Kaphelapa
village.
The other minerals are:
Glass Sand: Deposits of white sand with an average silica content above 98% and suitable
for the manufacture at ordinary coloured glassware's occur along the bank of
Bijainadi stream in Bisramganj with an estimated reserve of 1,60,000 tonnes,
near old Agartala with an estimated reserve of 50,000 tonnes, and at Purba and
Paschim Champamura.
A glass
factory was set up at Arundhutinagar near Agartala with a capacity of 2
tonnes of glassware per day. Sand deposits located at Agartala may meet the
demand of raw material for the production of soda ash for use in the soap
factory.
Clay: White
plastic clay suitable for the manufacture of coloured ceramic products occur at
several places near Agartala, Dharmanagar and Bisramganj areas. Small deposits
have been reported from the Teliamura - Ampi Bazar road cutting and near Khowai
and Jogindernagar.
Grey
plastic clay has been located on the hill-sides near Paschim Champamura with a
reserve of 914 tonnes, in Ranir Bazar with a reserve of 20,000 tonnes, at
Sekerkot with an estimated reserve of 60,800 tonnes. Grey and white plastic clay
occur at Tarkarjala village, Mohanpur and Latiachara areas.
Lignite: Small occurrences of pyritiferous
non-cacing variety of lignite occur in the
rocks on the western flank of Unkoti kolangshi hill, north of Kumarghat,
at Betaga and Sabrum.
Limestone: Sporadic occurences of occasionally fossiliferous siliceous limestone have
been reported from the Sakhan and Jampui ranges.
Building material: The shale deposits in the Atharamura range can be used for the manufacture
of clay-cement-nodules to be used as road metal.
The
lateritised conglomerate moorum with quartz pebble is being extensively quarried
for road metal. Grey-coloured, tough calcareous sandstone found in Gagrachara
can be used as road metal.
Hydro Potential: The Geological Survey of India is actively collaborating with the state
government for the construction of the Manu Earth Dam which is proposed to be
constructed at the upper reaches of the Manu river, for flood control and
irrigation.
A gravity type of brick and stone concrete dam with a reservoir at the upper
reaches of the Gomati river has been constructed for the generation of hydel
power from two generators each having a 5 MW capacity. The Geological Survey of
India was actively associated with the construction of the hydel project.
There is a proposal for construction of a dam in the upper reaches of the Khowai
river to control seasonal floods and improve irrigation.
|
