Ranchi, June 7: The gold rush to the host rock has begun.

Four mining companies — three private firms and a state-owned PSU — have sought mining lease in Tamar region of Ranchi.

The state-owned National Mineral Development Corporation, Rungta Mines Pvt Ltd, Manmohan Pvt Ltd and Ratu Mineral Pvt Ltd are keen to extract gold from that area.

After over four years of exploration, Geological Survey of India recently traced the host rock having veinlet deposits of gold ore over 2.38 million tonnes.

The host rock sits near three hamlets of Tamar block of Ranchi-Lungtu, Parasi and Sindauri.

National Mineral Development Corporation, categorised as “Mini Ratna-I”, has sought mining lease over an area of about 6.02sqkm.

The other three private companies want lease over 169 acres.

The area where these four companies are eager to take mining leases in that host rock are located near Parasi village in Tamar block.

“We have received the applications of these four companies for mining lease at the new deposits found at Tamar block. After scrutiny, the applications will be forwarded to the state government for a final decision,” said the Ranchi district mining officer, Dev Narayan Shaw.

Insiders of the district mines office indicated that the companies interested in the mining activities keep a tab on exploration activities and their findings.

“These four companies surely have found that commercial mining in that belt would be profitable and so they have sent the applications,” said Shaw.

HARD TO COME BY

• Process of granting lease for mining of major minerals like gold is a cumbersome process

• District mining office forwards applications to deputy commissioner. He/she then forwards them to the state mines and geology department, which again vets the applications and sends them to the chief minister

• After chief minister’s nod, the applications are recommended to Centre, which is empowered to give final permission