‘Premature party’: Cong takes dig at govt over lithium reserve claims

The Congress on Saturday took a dig at the Centre over the Geological Survey of India reportedly asked to conduct a re-exploration of the lithium reserves discovered in J&K.

Congress general secretary in-charge (communications) Jairam Ramesh said it was a case of premature celebration and typical of the way the “headline-obsessed” Modi government functions.

“Aap yeh chronology samajhiye: On February 13, 2023, the Modi government announced in grand fashion the discovery of what it called one of the world’s largest known lithium reserves in J&K. In November 2023, first auctions were conducted. The minimum requirement of three bids was not met and the auction was cancelled,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

He further said that in March 2024, a second round of auctions was announced, but in July 2024 it was revealed that this had not attracted even a single bid. In October 2024, the Geological Survey of India was directed to conduct a re-exploration of what had been proclaimed to be one of the world’s largest known lithium reserves, Ramesh added. “The reason why the companies were reluctant to bid was simple — exploration data was insufficient. Now auctions are planned after at least six months, but it can take even longer. This is typical of the way the headline-obsessed Modi government functions. A case of premature celebration!” the Congress leader said.

Days after the government scrapped the auction of a lithium mine in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress had claimed in July that the project was an illustrative example of the Modi government’s “failures” and said it was the “failing security situation” in the region that was precluding investors from the lithium reserves in Reasi.