ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : NATURAL RESOURCES 61
lead smelter at Tundoo in Bihar, HZL has now seven operating mines with a capacity of
8,740 tonnes of Ore per day, Two Zinc Smelters with a capacity, of 30,000 tonnes per year.
In addition to production of primary metals—zinc and lead, the company produces a
number of by-products such as cadmium, silver, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, fertilisers,
zinc sulphate and copper sulphate.
Based on lead-zinc deposits of Rampura-Agucha in Bhillwara District, a new open pit
mine at Rampura-Agucha and a new smelter at Chanderiya in Chittogarh District is under
construction. Total cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 684 crore. The smelte will have a
capacity of 70,000 tonnes zinc and 35,000 tonnes Lead per annum. It will be operational
during 1991-92.
- Hindustan Copper Limited
Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) is 54,000 tonnes of Copper in concentrate products
viz., Gold, Silver, Nickel, Selenium, tellurium etc. With a view to increase expansion of
Malanjkhand Copper Project. It has set up a continuous cast copper wire rod plant at Taloja
with an installed capacity of 60,000 tonnes per annum.
- Bharat Gold Mines Limited
Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML) operates Kolar Gold Mines where gold mining
started in 1880 under M/s. John Taylors Sons, a company incorporated in England. This
company continued operating these mines till 1956 when key were taken over by the
Karnataka.
BGML was incorprated in 1972 to take over and operate these mines. There are three
working mines viz.,
(i) Mysore Mine
(ii) Nundi Drug Mine
(iii) Chamption Reef Mine
Besides this, BGML is also exploiting Yeppamana Mine Project in Andhra Pradesh.
Mining is created out in Kolar Gold Fields under extremely difficult conditions. Mining has
reached a depth of over 3,200 metres at Kolar Gold Fields involving problems of heat and
ground control.
Due to depth of mining and depletion of Gold Reserves, mining operations of BGML are
uneconomic. Exploration for development of new shallow mines is being actively pursued.
Further, taking advantage of skilled manpower, technical expertise and available
infrastructure and diversification plants have been prepared to cover areas of mine
construction and manufacture of mining machinery.
Project and Contracts division of BGML was established in 1973 for mine construction
work and has already executed a large number of shaft sinking and mine development jobs.
It has ambitious programmes in this field to meet the requirement of mining industry in the
country during 1990s.
BGML has four central workshops, which besides catering the maintenance requirements
of their own mines, produce a variety of mining equipment for the market. It is planning