Chandigarh: Punjab is expected to begin potash exploration by the first week of May 2027 with the Centre approving 35 boreholes in Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts, announced mines and geology minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday.Goyal said while the Centre has approved 35 boreholes in Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts, the Punjab govt will drill five additional boreholes, taking the ongoing programme to 40. He said the AAP govt had consistently pursued the matter with the Centre to unlock Punjab’s untapped mineral potential.Sharing details of the two-day National Mining Ministers’ Conference held in Goa on Nov 5 and 6 under the chairmanship of Union Coal and Mines minister G Kishan Reddy, Goyal, “Punjab firmly presented its case on potash exploration and other state-specific mining issues at the national conference. The union minister directed senior officials to accord top priority to Punjab’s proposals and assured full cooperation in expediting the exploration process. This is a significant step towards unlocking Punjab’s mineral potential and strengthening the country’s mineral security.”Goyal said potash deposits in parts of Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib were discovered as far back as 1989, but successive govts failed to undertake any sustained exploration work. Only a handful of boreholes were drilled over the years, including one during 2018-19 and eight during 2022-23.
