HYDERABAD: The accidental discovery of Thorium deposits by the Geological Survey on India in Bayyaram of Khammam district has taken the government by surprise. The Thorium reserves were earlier found only in sea coast area of Andhra Pradesh. This surprise information came to light when the government had commissioned the Geological Survey of India to survey Bayyaram to estimate the quality and quantity of iron ore available there for setting up a steel plant. Thorium is used as fuel in nuclear plants.
The state government is planning to seek the help of Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) to make further studies on the quantity and quality of Thorium available in Bayyaram. It will also ask the AMD to find out whether Thorium reserves are available in any other part of the state, besides Bayyaram.
‘’Thorium is available in the sea coast area in AP from Srikakulam to Nellore district. It will be found in beach sand,” official sources told Express on Saturday. Meanwhile, the official sources said that the GSI survey on iron ore availability was continuing in Bayyaram area. The report of GSI on iron ore is likely to be available in the coming months. Setting up of steel plant by the Central government in Bayyaram will be decided only after the GSI report is out.