Kolkata, Nov 22 (IANS): The Geological Survey of India has located 44 new coal blocks with estimated coal resource of close to 25,000 million tonnes (MT) spread across four states in eastern India, a senior GSI official said on Thursday.

The coal blocks located in various parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha include a significant resource in Bihar's Bhagalpur district with 1366.75 MT of coal that places Bihar prominently on the coal map of the country.

"The GSI has located 44 coal blocks spread across West Bengal's Purulia and Birbhum districts, coal city of Talcher in Odisha, Bihar's Bhagalpur and Jharkhand's East Bokaro and south Karanpura. The location of the possible coal mines has been notified to the Central government. However, none of the blocks has been auctioned," said R.K. Kisku, Additional Director General of GSI's Eastern Region.

"Out of the 44 coal blocks, around 15 blocks are located in West Bengal. The blocks have been demarcated by the GSI. Once the mining starts, it will be a massive boost for the economy of the respective states and the country," he said.

However, the official said the auction procedure would take time especially due to the general election nest year.

The GSI has done National Geo Chemical Mapping (NGCM) of 1,82,373 Sq km area in the eastern region of the country in the last 10 years to find out the elements which are economically fruitful to the country, the official added.