Source: TH
Context: The Karnataka government has approved the Centre’s proposal to revive gold mining and auction 13 tailing dumps spanning 1,003 acres at Kolar Gold Fields (KGF).
The mines, owned by Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML), are set for revival under the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957. The move aims to generate employment and boost domestic gold production. KGF is among the deepest in the world. Mining at KGF began in 1880 by Jhon Taylor & Sons. After 121 years of operation, the mines closed on February 28, 2001, due to high operational costs and low revenues. Besides gold extraction, KGF has been utilized for particle physics experiments, leading to the discovery of atmospheric neutrinos.
Currently, India operates three gold mines: Hutti and Uti in Karnataka, and Hirabuddini in Jharkhand. India produces approximately 1.6 tonnes of gold annually, far below its consumption of 774 tonnes per year.
KGF (Kolar Gold Fields) is situated 100 kilometres from Bangalore in Karnataka’s Kolar district.
Fig: Kolar District (Karnataka)
