Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that if India utilizes the recently discovered lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir, it will be on the first position in the field of vehicle manufacturing in the world.
Speaking at an event organized by industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Friday, Gadkari said public transport needs to be promoted and electric buses are the future. “We import 1,200 tonnes of lithium every year,” he said.
The Union Minister said, “We have now got Lithium in Jammu and Kashmir. If we can use this Lithium Ion, we will be the number one vehicle manufacturer globally.
India has become the third largest vehicle market in the last year i.e. 2022 after China and America leaving behind Japan. According to Gadkari, “At present the country’s vehicle industry is worth Rs 7.5 lakh crore. Apart from this, this sector has the maximum contribution in the total Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue of the country.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has discovered lithium, an important mineral for the manufacture of electric vehicles and solar panels, in Reasi district. Its estimated reserves are estimated at 59 lakh tonnes.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Mines Secretary Amit Sharma told PTI, “This lithium comes under the category of rare resource. It was not available in India earlier and we were 100 per cent dependent on its import.” He said, “…as per the G3 (advanced) analysis of GSI, the foothills of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Salal village of Reasi is abundant in Best quality Lithium available.
