Raipur, Aug. 31: A high-grade rock with radioactive elements has been discovered in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, hinting at a possible deposit of uranium in the state.
“The radioactive elements collected from the site have been sent to the (Jamshedpur-based) laboratory of the eastern region headquarters, atomic minerals directorate, for exploration and research to establish the quality and presence of uranium in the rock,” in-charge official Palanchand Naskar told The Telegraph.
Exploration work in the Karichapar forest, around 18 km from Raigarh and 250 km east of the state capital, started three months ago. “After making a 235-m bore-well, the team found the presence of high-grade radioactive elements in a rock,” Naskar said.
A 30-member team of the centre has set up a temporary camp in the forest and is exploring the presence of more rocks in the area. “It is a time consuming process and it took us three months to dig a 235-m bore-well,” the official said, adding that work is under way to dig more bore-wells in the area to trace the presence of similar rocks.
He clarified that only after the tests it could be confirmed that the radioactive element is uranium. The tests will also reveal the proportion of the mineral present in the rock and its grade. “If the results are positive, extraction and mining work will start,” Naskar added.
The discovery of the rock was kept a secret and the team from the Jamshedpur directorate, led by Naskar, did not even inform the local authorities about the findings.
“We haven’t received anything officially,” said Raigarh superintendent of police Deepanshu Kabra. The police administration is keeping a close eye on the forest area. “Since we, too, have received information on the discovery unofficially, the area has been put under the security scanner.”
The state directorate of mining and geology is not concerned with the operation, but a senior official said there could well be a huge uranium deposit in the Karichapar forest. There are reports on the presence of uranium in Lailunga, around 80 km from Raigarh, too, said the official.
