Jammu, Apr 29: The work on the country’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji Khad in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir has been completed, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
The completion of the bridge drew praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is keenly monitoring the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), which will provide rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.
“In 11 months, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge (Anji Khad) is ready…,” Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tweeted on Friday, sharing a video of the completed bridge. The total length of the cable strand used in the bridge is 653 km.
Reacting to Vaishnaw’s tweet, the prime minister wrote “excellent”.
The completion of Anji Khad bridge, having a single pylon with a height of 331 metres above the river bed on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), is yet another major breakthrough achieved by the Indian Railways, which is expecting to complete the Rs 37,000 crore project by the end of this year.
Minister of State for Railways Darshana Vikram Jardosh, who recently inspected the USBRL project by visiting various key locations including Anji Khad bridge and the nearby iconic Chenab bridge, termed the completion of the country’s first cable-stayed bridge as “another milestone” despite difficult geographic conditions.
“I visited the bridge site and congratulated everyone for successfully installing all 96 cables of the bridge in a record time of 11 months. This asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge crosses the deep gorges of Anji river, a tributary of river Chenab,” she said.
Jardosh said the bridge connects tunnel T2 on the Katra side and Tunnel T3 on the Reasi side.
“It has been the PM’s vision to make Indian railways the best in the world. Overcoming geographic and climatic challenges, our engineers and railway officials have conquered the invincible,” the minister said.
Described as a “true engineering marvel”, the bridge has 48 cables each on lateral and central spans with work on its pylon started in 2017, officials said, adding the pylon is standing 191 metre from its foundation level.
They said It is the second highest railway bridge after the iconic arch bridge over Chenab at Kauri, which is the highest railway bridge in the world being 359 metres above the river bed level — 35 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel tower in Paris.
Anji Khad bridge has a total length of 473.25 metres, while the length of the viaduct is 120 metres. The central embankment has a length of 94.25 meters, the officials said.
They said the bridge has been designed to handle heavy storms of strong winds and even explosions.
In October 2016, the Railways decided to build a cable-stayed bridge at Anji Khad after the plan to build an arch bridge similar to Chenab bridge was abandoned due to vulnerability of the structure, primarily due to concerns over geological stability of the region.
The Railway Ministry sanctioned the construction of the railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla via Srinagar in phases — 25-km Udhampur to Katra in 1994, 118-km Qazigund to Baramulla and 129-km Katra to Qazigund in 1999.
In view of the importance of the USBRL in providing seamless and hassle-free connectivity to Kashmir, the 272-km-long rail link was declared as a “National Project” in 2002.
Out of the total 272-km USBRL project, 161-km was commissioned in phases with first phase 118-km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009, followed by 18-km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013 and 25-km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014. The work on 111-km Katra-Banihal stretch is going on.–(PTI)
ADMISSION FOR SHORT-TERM SKILL TRAINING UNDER PMKVY 4.0
In pursuance to the letter issued by Directorate of Skill Development J&K letter NO:DSD/401/Trgs/2023/3308.48 dated:21-02-2023. Applications on prescribed Registration form are invited from the unemployed/school & college dropouts for admission to below mentioned job oriented short term course under Skill Hub Initiative (SHI) of Prime Minister Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 4.0) scheme in Govt. ITI Reasi. The admission cum registration forms can be had from the office of the Superintendent Govt. ITI Reasi free of cost during working hrs. The application form duly completed along with the below mentioned self attested documents should be deposited in the office of Govt. ITI Reasi by or before 24-3-2023.
i) Marks certificate of 10″ pass.
ii) Date of birth certificate
iii) Copy of Aadhar card.
iv) Copy of bank pass book.
v) Three passport size photographs. vi) Category certificate if any.
Training programmeBenefits :
Completely free of cost training .
NSQF placement linked courses.
PMKVY training kit shall be provided to the admitted candidates.
Instructions to candidates.
For admission to programme reference will be given to learners living in local community.
Admission cum registration shall be on First cum first serve basis.
Training shall be started only after completion of full batch.
Admission will not be given students who have taken similar type of training from some other training Organization.
Aadhar based Biometric attendance is mandator), for the students undergoing training.
Learners should attend theory/practical class at the time slots allotted to them.
Strict discipline in accordance with the Institute should be maintained through out the course period.
Students who successfully complete the SMKVY programme are entitled to get NSDC certificate on completion of assessment process in accordance with NSDC norms.
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The Geographical Survey of India (GSI) revelations that Reasi hills hold vast treasures of rare and expensive lithium have triggered hopes of a better carbon-free future and a lot of prosperity. The inferred deposits have implied flip side too, reports Khalid Bashir Gura
On February 9, an otherwise non-descript village nestled in the high mountains of Reasi suddenly became a national cynosure. The village’s long solitude was disrupted as hoards of people started thronging the belt. Salal Kotli Sarpanch, Preetam Singh’s kept ringing as requests came for guiding the visiting officials to the area.
In 2018, a Geological Survey of India (GSI) team reached Salal, said Singh, to collect samples for research. They were following up the 1995-1997 survey by geologists KK Sharma and SC Uppal who spotted higher values of lithium in the area suggesting further exploration. Then, Lithium was in less demand, a situation that dramatically changed later.
The outcome of the 2018 exercise was made public on February 9, when the Ministry of Mines announced GSI’s success in locating “inferred” resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium in the Salal-Haimana belt.
“We have been about told the economic prosperity the discovery of the lithium will bring,” Singh said. “But simultaneously we find ourselves worrying about our possible displacement.”
New Oil
Officials say the discovery will boost Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and make it self-reliant in a metal that is now fuelling growth. The crucial discovery coincided with the climate-change-impacted world transitioning from fossil fuels to zero-emissions energy sources in which lithium holds the key. Over the years, especially by Industrial Revolutions 3 and 4, the shiny grey-light metal has evolved over the years in the global market as a ‘white gold.’
“Price of lithium has gone to insane levels! Tesla might actually have to get into the mining and refining directly at scale, unless costs improve,” Twitter owner, Elon Musk, the world’s top capitalist who invests in future technology including Tesla founder tweeted on April 9, 2022.
Apart from being used in batteries to power smartphones, laptops and almost all other gadgets, Lithium is a vital component in the rechargeable batteries that run electric vehicles (EVs). Its low weight and enormous capacity to store energy led markets to exhibit lithium hunger. The discovery is expected to end India’s import dependence and help in achieving its goals of reducing carbon footprints as the country aims at deriving about 50 per cent of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel energy resources by 2030. In 2022, India sold more than a million EVs and the plan is to reach 10 million units by 2030.
“Lithium batteries are the new oil,” asserted Elon Musk, insisting by 2027 30 million EVs must be created. This, he said, would require 1.8 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. “This would require a 473 per cent increase in output of lithium carbonate equivalent to 1.8 million tonnes from levels in 2019.”
“No doubt now, that India’s future will be ‘electrifying,’” Industrialist Anand Mahindra tweeted, hailing the discovery.
Better Quality
Against the normal grade of 220 ppm (particles per million), the Reasi lithium found is 550 ppm indicating the presence of the best quality in abundant deposits, earth scientist Prof Shakil Romshoo said. “India may become the world’s major producer and the EV industry will get a shot in the arm as India is committed to increasing the number of EVs by 30 per cent by 2030.”
NITI Aayog data suggests the total EV sales by 2030 could go up to 80 million from the current 1.3 million sales reported till July 2022. A Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report claims that by 2029-30, India will have 2.700 MWs of battery storage capacity.
These requirements have triggered massive price escalations for lithium, now dubbed ‘white gold’.
A group of excited resident in Reasi’s Salal area with soil blocks that has Lithoium in it. The GST said in February 2023 that the area has 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium.
Asserting that the discovery will help India to tackle the climate change crisis, Ramshoo said, “now India can deliver on its international promise of becoming carbon neutral by 2070” If climate targets set in the Paris Agreement are to be met, he said green technology especially EV’s have to be promoted on large scale in India, China, US, and Europe.
Import Dependence
While Chile, Australia, Argentina and China are home to the world’s highest lithium reserves, the path-breaking discovery put India on the map of the world’s largest lithium mines, only next to Chile. According to government data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, between April-December of 2022-23, India shelled out Rs. 163 billion for the import of lithium and lithium-ion
The present discovery will reduce the country’s dependence on imports. Reports appearing in the media suggest in 2020-21, India imported Rs 173 crore worth of lithium metal and lithium batteries for Rs 8,811 crore. In 2022, between April and November alone, Rs 164 crore worth of metal and Rs 7,986 crore worth of batteries were imported.
Last year, Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Minister, Pralhad Joshi informed Rajya Sabha, that India imported Lithium-ion worth Rs 8,574 crores in FY 2018-19, Rs 8,819 crores in 2019-20 and Lithium-ion worth Rs 8,811 crores in 2020-21.
India did not manufacture lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells till 2020 and would import from China or Taiwan and assemble them here. “India imported US$1.23 billion worth of Li-ion batteries between 2018 and 2019,” a February 2022 report by the India chapter of the World Resources Institute (WRI) said. “Over 165 crores lithium batteries are estimated to have been imported into India between FY17 and FY20 at an estimated import bill of upwards of US $3.3 billion.”
Reasi could change the situation now.
While the officials said the work will start soon, it remains to be seen how the extraction will start. Lithium can be extracted in different ways, depending on the type of the deposit — generally either through solar evaporation of large brine pools or from hard-rock extraction of the ore.
A Long Way
As the deposit is being described as “inferred resources,” an official in the mining department, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “we should wait for some time till the final stages of assessment before proper identification of the proven reserve.”
Earlier, in 2021, the 1,600 tonnes of lithium ore discovered in Karnataka were also classified as being in the “inferred category”. A lot of steps are involved before India could become a producer of Lithium.
Many assessments and samplings are required. The exploration of mineral deposits is divided into four stages — reconnaissance (G4), preliminary exploration (G3), general exploration (G2) and detailed exploration (G1). In Reasi, GSI is at G3.
“These are initial estimates. The process will take many years before actual mining starts,” said, Professor Pankaj Srivastava, Department of Geology, University of Jammu. “To arrive at a high confidence level, the exploratory companies will undertake the G2 level of assessment after G3, where the indicative resources are calculated, which tells us how much of the deposit could be mined with more facts. Later in the G1 level, the real ‘proved resource assessment’ is done.”
Experts say the “inferred” mineral is a resource for which quantity, grade and mineral content are estimated only with a low level of confidence. It is based on information gathered from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that may be of limited or uncertain quality, and also of lower reliability from geological evidence.
“As our level of confidence is low, it may increase or decrease. It is at a preliminary stage. Lithium is present in both forms. It is in the lattice of the mineral and it does not have its own mineral but the bauxite at the site is lithium-rich,” Srivastava said. “We need technology to extract lithium out of the rocks.
GSI Findings
Geologists have found the solubility of lithium is amenable to dissolution only by hydrofluorination with perchloric acid, which means the metal is present either in silicate or in the lattices of bauxite mineral, the GSI Survey of 1995 to 1997 reveals.
As analytical results have indicated high values of Li (averaging 883.80 ppm), according to study, as the mineralogical studies have failed to identify the mineral phase except in one sample where cockeite was indicated, the higher values of lithium are persistent throughout the belt (where bauxite is exposed) in the bauxite column. “Lithium prospect in the bauxite column in the area investigation appears to be promising. The bauxite column in Salal-Panasa-Sangarmarg (Saroda Bas) and Chakar areas appears to be a promising horizon for lithium and may be taken up for further detailed work,” the study stated. “The higher values of Lithium are persistent throughout the belt (Where bauxite is exposed) in the bauxite column). Lithium prospect in the bauxite column in the area investigation appears to be promising.”
Ecological Concerns
Amidst all these hopes and planning, environmentalists have raised a clarion call to save the flora and fauna of the region.
Romshu suggested that the mining and exploration of the lithium ore would have a significant environmental cost, which needs to be minimised, by employing the latest environmental-friendly exploration technologies.
Happy otherwise, even the residents know the flip side of the discovery. “We are apprehensive about an uncertain future. There will be economic prosperity but what will happen to us, our lands and homes,” Balbir Singh, a local transporter said. Almost 8000 people live in 2500 homes.
“We have learned that mining triggers pollution and people are displaced from demarcated areas,” Preetam Singh, a Sarpanch said. “Worried residents have called for a panchayat meeting. We cannot stop its extraction but the government has to think about us before embarking on the project.”
Srinagar, Feb 18 (GNS): At least two devotees were killed and nineteen others injured after a bus carrying them met with an accident in Reasi district on Saturday afternoon, officials said.
They told GNS that a Canter bus, on way from Bindi to Shiv Khodi, plunged into a deep gorge at Taryath.
In the incident, they said, two persons, a 14-yr-old boy and a 19-year-old girl, were killed on the spot while nineteen others suffered injuries. “Among the injured, thirteen were referred to GMC Jammu after initial treatment at a local hospital”, they said.
“The injured persons, as per hospital authorities, are said to be responding well to the treatment”, the official further said. (GNS)
Jammu, Feb 13 (GNS): A bridge over rivulet in Mahore area of Reasi collapsed when two loaded dumpers were crossing on it last evening, officials said.
They said both the dumpers, one having registration number JK02CW-9495 and other one without registration plate, fell in Badora rivulet connecting Mahore and Chassan Tehsils.
Drivers of the vehicles, identified as Amjid Khan and Showkat Ali, both residents of Kotranka Rajouri, were injured and were shifted to hospital by rescuers including police.
SDM Mazahir Hussein Shah confirmed to GNS collapsing of the bridge and injuries to drivers as well as damage to the dumpers. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: A bridge over rivulet in Mahore area of Reasi collapsed when two loaded dumpers were crossing on it last evening, officials said.
Bridge collapses in Reasi
Quoting officials news agency GNS reported that both the dumpers, one having registration number JK02CW-9495 and other one without registration plate, fell in Badora rivulet connecting Mahore and Chassan Tehsils.
Drivers of the vehicles, identified as Amjid Khan and Showkat Ali, both residents of Kotranka Rajouri, were injured and were shifted to hospital by rescuers including police.
SDM Mazahir Hussein Shah confirmed the collapsing of the bridge and injuries to drivers as well as damage to the dumpers.
SRINAGAR: Ministry of Mines announced the discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium by the geological survey of India on Thursday. Lithium is discovered for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, in the Salal Haimana area of the Reasi district. Mines are at the preliminary stage of exploration known as G3.
Lithium is a non-ferrous metal used in batteries, mobile phones, watches, solar panels, and electric vehicles. Lithium has low density, a high energy-to-weight ratio, and stores large amounts of energy. Lithium is found in a crystalline form alongside rocks and other mineral deposits in the Earth’s crust. It makes up 0.002 per cent of the Earth’s crust. It is then refined to transform into metal form. It is commercially sold in metal form.
Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi addressed the 62nd Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting on February 9, 2023. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) organised the meeting under the Ministry of Mines. During the meeting, Vivek Bharadwaj, secretary of the Ministry of Mines handed 51 mining block reports and memorandums to State Governments which included two geological reports of the lithium blocks to Jammu and Kashmir Mining Secretary, Amit Sharma. “Out of these 51 mineral blocks, 5 blocks pertain to gold and other blocks pertain to commodities like potash, molybdenum, base metals, etc. spread across 11 states of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana,” the ministry said.
A news report quoted Sharma saying, “Jammu and Kashmir has made history in the mining sector with the discovery of critical mineral lithium.” “Lithium blocks which are a rare thing and much demanded global manor mineral for electric batteries which is the future, shall be explored and eAuctioned so that J&K figures on the global map so far as availability of Lithium reserves in the world are concerned,” he added.
India imports Lithium from Australia and Argentina. India imports the second highest quantity of lithium at 198 thousand shipments through 4,509 importers from 7283 suppliers. Chile reserves the highest quantity of lithium at 9.2 million tonnes followed by Australia and Argentina at 5.7 million tonnes and 2.2 million tonnes respectively. China refines almost 75 per cent of the world’s total lithium.
At the 62nd CGPB meeting, Bharadwaj said that critical minerals are needed everywhere, whether it be for a solar panel or a cell phone and it is crucial for the nation to identify key minerals and then process them in order to become self-sufficient.
The discovery of lithium in such high quantities is believed to fulfil India’s plan to expand EV penetration by 30 per cent by 2030 as it is a key component of electric vehicles. Currently, less than 1 per cent of the new cars sold in India are electric. Lithium can boost the manufacture of electric vehicles, hence leading to a decrease in carbon emissions.
SRINAGAR: The Geological Survey of India on Thursday said it has found lithium deposits for the first time in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a statement, GSI said it has found 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium inferred resources in the Reasi district.
It said lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes have been found in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi.
The lithium deposits are very critical for India as the government has been focussing on electric cars.
Quoting District Mineral Officer Reasi Shafiq Ahmad news agency KNO reported that there was presence of Bauxite in composite form and during its further processing Lithium was also discovered.
“GSI has now approved it and it will be taken for auction after Lithium reserves were found. We had explored it earlier also but now this time it has been approved by GSI,” he said.
He added it will now be taken up for auction at the country and UT level as it is a major mineral and has been found first time in the country.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Babila Rakwal said that they are further working on it and she will soon get the exact input from the concerned officials.
Srinagar, Feb 10: The Geological Survey of India on Thursday said it has found lithium deposits for the first time in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a statement GSI said it has found 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium inferred resources in the Reasi district.
It said lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes have been found in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi.
The lithium deposits are very critical for India as the government has been focussing on electric cars.
Meanwhile, talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), District Mineral Officer Reasi Shafiq Ahmad said there was presence of Bauxite in composite form and during its further processing Lithium was also discovered.
“GSI has now approved it and it will be taken for auction after Lithium reserves were found. We had explored it earlier also but now this time it has been approved by GSI,” he said.
He added it will now be taken up for auction at the country and UT level as it is a major mineral and has been found first time in the country.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Babila Rakwal told KNO that they are further working on it and she will soon get the exact input from the concerned officials—(KNO)
Srinagar, Feb 02: Jammu and Kashmir police Thursday claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough in January 21 Narwal, Jammu blast by arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, who is also a government employee, from whose possession a “perfume IED”, first of its kind, was recovered.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that after 11 days of hardwork of the Jammu police, a major success was achieved in the form of arrest of one Arif Ahmed, a resident of Reasi district of Jammu.
“Arif is a government employee and is an active militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. He was working at the behest of Qasim, a Reasi resident and his uncle Qamardin, also a Reasi resident, presently in Pakistan, who are part of LeT,” the DGP said. He said Arif was involved in three IED blast incidents—Shahstri Nagar, Katra and January 21 incident of Narwal, Jammu.
“So far we had seen IED with explosive materials, sticky bombs and timer fitted IEDs but a new type of IED was recovered from Arif which is Perfume IED. This IED is in a bottle form and seems like a perfume bottle but contains explosive material,” the DGP said, adding that “since the IED is new to us, experts will see how harmful and how powerful it can be. We have not touched it so far.”
He said that the main aim of these IEDs is to target innocent people and to trigger communal hatred in the Jammu region. “Arif will not only lose his job but a strong dossier will be prepared against him. He was a very clever operative. He had burnt all the evidence be that his clothes, shoes and that he even set ablaze his mobile phone as well. But police worked hard on even small inputs and leads that led to the arrest of Arif,” he said, as per KNO.
The DGP said that IED’s received by Arif were air-dropped through drones. “He has confessed to the crime,” he said. To a query about Danghri, Rajouri incident and the fate of probe, the DGP said that the investigations are in the advance stage and the output will be shared with the media men shortly.
Asked about further links of Arif and possible Kashmir connection, the DGP said that so far it has not been seen that Kashmiri youth are coming to Jammu for militancy or for that matter Jammu youth going to Kashmir. “Further investigations are on,” he said—(KNO)
