India state finds 300,000 T bauxite reserves -min

RAIPUR, India, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Bauxite ore reserves of 300,000 tonnes have been found in a central Indian state, plagued by Maoist insurgency, the state's chief minister said on Wednesday. "We found about 300,000 tonnes of bauxite reserves spread out in an area of 20 hectares at village Kudarwahi in Bastar district," Raman Singh told Reuters. "It is high-quality reserves and state government-owned Chhattisgarh Mining Development Corporation intends to open up the mine for excavation within three to four months," he said. A senior official at the state firm said it would be difficult to run mining activities in the area because of Maoists' growing dominance. Chhattisgarh state has known deposits of bauxites in Surguja and Kawardha districts where Vedanta Resources Plc -controlled Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd is excavating ore to feed its nearby Korba plant.