Chhattisgarh has earned record revenue of Rs 129.41 billion from minerals for the year 2022-23, a rise of Rs 6.36 billion from the previous fiscal, a state government official said. Iron ore fetched the highest Rs 36 billion followed by Rs 33.36 billion from coal, while Danetwada was the top-earning district in terms of mineral revenue, a press release from the state government said.

"Limestone and bauxite too fetched sizable revenue. Dantewada contributed Rs 64.19 billion, followed by Korba Rs 23.61 billion, Raigarh Rs 17.17 billion, Balod Rs 7.6 billion, Baloda Bazar Rs 3.15 billion, Kanker Rs 2.86 billion and Surguja Rs 2.62 billion," an official said. "The state government has auctioned 29 mineral blocks in Chhattisgarh on revenue sharing mode, which in the coming years will fetch the state Rs 1 trillion," said Anurag Diwan, Joint Director, Geology and Mining.

For the first time under the revenue sharing system, the state government was able to earn Rs 5.2 million by participating in two limestone block auctions, the release said. Diwan said the state government's policy introduced in 2015-16 has facilitated e-auctioning of two major limestone blocks, namely Karhi Chandi in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district and Kesla in Raipur district. "The limestone production from these blocks commenced in 2022-23, and the government has received its share through a revenue-sharing mechanism that includes royalties, DMF, environment, and infrastructure charges, along with profits generated by the blocks," Diwan said.