Punjab to begin potash exploration by May 2027; Centre approves 35 boreholes in Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, November 10, 2026: Punjab is set to begin potash exploration by the end of April or the first week of May 2027, with the Centre approving 35 boreholes in Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts. The state government will drill five additional boreholes, taking the ongoing programme to 40.
Punjab Mines and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal announced this at a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Tuesday. He said reports from the ongoing drilling activities are expected by February 2027, paving the way for the next phase of exploration.
Of the 35 boreholes approved by the Centre, 20 are being drilled by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), while 15 are being undertaken by Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL). Some boreholes have already been completed, while work on the remaining ones is underway.
Goyal said potash deposits in parts of Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib were first discovered in 1989, but sustained exploration had not been undertaken by successive governments. He said the Bhagwant Mann government had taken up the matter to assess the state's mineral potential through systematic exploration.
Highlighting the importance of the exercise, the minister said India was almost entirely dependent on imports for potash, making domestic exploration important for reducing import dependence and strengthening mineral security.
Punjab has also planned 16 additional boreholes for 2026-27, with the Centre's approval. A dedicated laboratory for testing potash and heavy metals is being established in Mohali to strengthen the state's scientific infrastructure.
Goyal said Punjab had sought early sanctions from the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) for proposed potash exploration blocks at Patrewala, Khippanwali, Khuranj and Badian for 2027-28. The state has also requested an upgrade of geological exploration from G-3 to G-1 in Rajpura, Gidranwali and Shergarh to establish the commercial viability of mineral resources.
He said the 46-square-kilometre Shergarh block had failed to attract bidders in previous auctions and that Punjab had urged the Centre to encourage companies exploring the adjoining Nagaur-Ganganagar basin in Rajasthan to participate in bidding for the block.
The minister also highlighted Punjab's performance in mining-sector reforms, saying the state secured first rank in the Centre's mining reform assessment for 2025 and received an incentive of ₹200 crore. Reforms included digital monitoring of mining activities, integration of weighbridges, check posts and installation of CCTV cameras to strengthen enforcement against illegal mining.
Goyal said Punjab had requested the Centre to retain the earlier assessment framework under the revised Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for 2026-27, or assess its performance separately, as the revised criteria clubbed major and minor minerals together.
He added that Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy had assured cooperation in addressing Punjab's concerns and had assigned senior officials to examine the state's proposals.
The minister also said Punjab had presented its groundwater conservation achievements at the National Mining Ministers' Conference in Goa, claiming that water levels had risen by two to four metres at various locations.
He said the state would hold a follow-up meeting with Union Ministry officials in Chandigarh to ensure that the assurances on exploration and mining reforms were translated into action.