Economy

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.