CPCT Test 10
15 min30 WPM required430 words
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Madhya Pradesh is endowed with significant mineral wealth, encompassing deposits of diamond, coal, limestone, iron ore, manganese ore, bauxite, copper ore, rock phosphate, dolomite, and various minor minerals, which collectively make the state an important contributor to India's mineral production and provide raw materials for major industries both within and outside the state. Diamond mining is perhaps the most distinctive mineral activity in Madhya Pradesh, as the state hosts the only diamond mine in India — the Panna diamond mine in Chhatarpur district — operated by the National Mineral Development Corporation under a lease that has been renewed periodically. The Panna mine produces gem-quality and industrial diamonds from kimberlite pipes, and the region around Panna has a tradition of artisanal diamond mining by local communities that predates the industrial operation by centuries. Coal deposits in Madhya Pradesh are located primarily in the Singrauli and Sohagpur coalfields of eastern and north-central Madhya Pradesh, with Singrauli being one of India's largest and most important coalfield complexes, hosting multiple major opencast and underground mines operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India, as well as captive mining operations of power companies. The Singrauli region has been developed as a major power generation hub with several large thermal power stations built around the coalfield, taking advantage of the proximity of fuel and cooling water from the Rihand reservoir. Limestone deposits of high quality are widely distributed in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the Satna district and surrounding areas, which have become a major cement manufacturing cluster with plants of several leading cement companies including Prism, J.K. Cement, Ultratech, and ACC. The Satna cement cluster accounts for a significant share of India's total cement production capacity. Iron ore deposits occur in the Balaghat, Jabalpur, and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh, and manganese ore is mined in Balaghat, which has historically been among India's significant manganese ore producers. The Malanjkhand copper mine in Balaghat district, operated by Hindustan Copper Limited, is one of India's important copper ore producers. Madhya Pradesh's mineral sector is governed by the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act and the relevant state rules, with the state government collecting royalties and levies on mineral production. The District Mineral Foundation, established under the 2015 amendment to the MMDR Act, collects a portion of royalty revenue and uses it for the welfare of mining-affected communities and the development of mining districts. The state has a significant sand mining sector governed by the Madhya Pradesh Sand Policy, which attempts to balance the supply of sand for construction with environmental protection of river systems.