In a twist of events, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on Saturday said the reports that an estimated 3,000 tonnes of gold has been found in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, is false.
The claim was reportedly made by a district mining official.
“Such data was not given by anybody from GSI…. GSI has not estimated such kind of vast resource of gold deposits in Sonbhadra district,” GSI Director General (DG) M Sridhar told PTI in Kolkata.
“We share our findings regarding any resources of ore after conducting a survey with the state units…. We (GSI, Northern Region) had carried out work in that region in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. The report was shared with UP DGM for information and further necessary action,” he said.
Sridhar said that the gold that can be extracted from the 52,806.25 tonnes of ore is approximately 160 kg and not 3,350 tonnes as mentioned in the media.