Rajasthan gets a new mining policy
Special Correspondent
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Cabinet on Friday adopted a new mining policy after a gap of 17 years to promote value addition in mining, generate employment and exploit the mineral wealth of the State prudently with balancing of environmental considerations. The new policy is a bold step in that it abolishes the Ministers' discretionary powers for allotment of mining leases.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said after the Cabinet meeting that the policy, brought in with immediate effect, would lay emphasis on projects based on crude oil, gas, lignite, limestone, sandstone, clays and marble and reserve 50 per cent of the mining areas for various categories. The remaining 50 per cent would be disposed of through auction.
The new policy – the third for the State after the previous policies announced in 1977 and 1994 – would bring in transparency and efficiency in mining operations and minimise the scope for illegal activities, corruption and creation of mining mafia, “as has been witnessed recently in [BJP-ruled] Karnataka”, said Mr. Gehlot addressing a press conference.
The discretionary powers given under Rule 65 of the Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 1986, for allotment of mining leases and licences would henceforth be used collectively by the State Cabinet alone in public interest in keeping with the recent instructions given by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, said Mr. Gehlot.
In cases where government land is available, a 20-metre-wide strip will be allotted to mine owners to promote scientific mining. The policy extends the initial term for minor mineral leases from 20 years to 30 years and the total period, including renewal, from 60 years to 90 years. In case of quarry licences, the initial term will be 15 years and renewal period 10 years.
Reserved categories
The reserved categories for 50 per cent of the mining plots will include societies of unemployed youths, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Special and Other Backward Classes, unemployed mining engineers and dependents of defence martyrs. For government land, the Mines Department will obtain clearances before inviting applications through a notification.
Mr. Gehlot said the applications for mining leases received till Thursday would be disposed of according to the rules prevalent that day and added that the instances of individuals or firms trying to submit the applications in “back dates” would be prevented by thorough investigation.
Minister of State for Mines and Minerals Ramlal Jat and Principal Mines Secretary Govind Sharma accompanied Mr. Gehlot at the interaction with journalists. Mr. Gehlot said rock phosphate and steel grade limestone would continue to be reserved for the public sector Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited. Though gypsum would also be reserved for RSMML, MoU-based mining will be permitted in case of Plaster of Paris units.
The parameters for priority under Section 11 (5) of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act would henceforth be the State public sector undertaking, value addition, exhaustion of captive capacity, use of special technology, ownership of the land in question and scientific mining.
The Chief Minister said certain minerals such as limestone, quartzite and dolomite would occur both as major and minor minerals and conversion from one category to the other would be allowed on a committee's recommendation, subject to the condition that there is no revenue loss to the Government.
Profits for welfare
In the tribal-dominated areas in southern parts of the State, 26 per cent of profit from new leases will be spent on welfare of tribals. Mr. Gehlot said the new policy would ensure environment protection as well as safety of mine workers.
Collectors would allot land for dumping of waste at appropriate locations and no mineral concession would be granted within 25 metres of forest boundary. No mining activities will be allowed within the notified boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The mine owners will also be made liable for compulsory maintenance of medical and life insurance policies for each worker. Mr. Gehlot said the safety standards would be enforced strictly in the mining areas.
In other decisions, the Cabinet named the Ayurveda University in Jodhpur after Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and made a new provision for local fund audit under technical guidance and supervision of the Auditor-General. Mr. Gehlot said the provision for withholding promotion of government employees on the birth of a third child would not apply in cases where one or both of existing two children are disabled. The Cabinet also extended the pension benefits to divorced Muslim women on producing the Qazi's certificate instead of having to obtain a court decree.
Special Correspondent
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Cabinet on Friday adopted a new mining policy after a gap of 17 years to promote value addition in mining, generate employment and exploit the mineral wealth of the State prudently with balancing of environmental considerations. The new policy is a bold step in that it abolishes the Ministers' discretionary powers for allotment of mining leases.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said after the Cabinet meeting that the policy, brought in with immediate effect, would lay emphasis on projects based on crude oil, gas, lignite, limestone, sandstone, clays and marble and reserve 50 per cent of the mining areas for various categories. The remaining 50 per cent would be disposed of through auction.
The new policy – the third for the State after the previous policies announced in 1977 and 1994 – would bring in transparency and efficiency in mining operations and minimise the scope for illegal activities, corruption and creation of mining mafia, “as has been witnessed recently in [BJP-ruled] Karnataka”, said Mr. Gehlot addressing a press conference.
The discretionary powers given under Rule 65 of the Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 1986, for allotment of mining leases and licences would henceforth be used collectively by the State Cabinet alone in public interest in keeping with the recent instructions given by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, said Mr. Gehlot.
In cases where government land is available, a 20-metre-wide strip will be allotted to mine owners to promote scientific mining. The policy extends the initial term for minor mineral leases from 20 years to 30 years and the total period, including renewal, from 60 years to 90 years. In case of quarry licences, the initial term will be 15 years and renewal period 10 years.
Reserved categories
The reserved categories for 50 per cent of the mining plots will include societies of unemployed youths, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Special and Other Backward Classes, unemployed mining engineers and dependents of defence martyrs. For government land, the Mines Department will obtain clearances before inviting applications through a notification.
Mr. Gehlot said the applications for mining leases received till Thursday would be disposed of according to the rules prevalent that day and added that the instances of individuals or firms trying to submit the applications in “back dates” would be prevented by thorough investigation.
Minister of State for Mines and Minerals Ramlal Jat and Principal Mines Secretary Govind Sharma accompanied Mr. Gehlot at the interaction with journalists. Mr. Gehlot said rock phosphate and steel grade limestone would continue to be reserved for the public sector Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited. Though gypsum would also be reserved for RSMML, MoU-based mining will be permitted in case of Plaster of Paris units.
The parameters for priority under Section 11 (5) of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act would henceforth be the State public sector undertaking, value addition, exhaustion of captive capacity, use of special technology, ownership of the land in question and scientific mining.
The Chief Minister said certain minerals such as limestone, quartzite and dolomite would occur both as major and minor minerals and conversion from one category to the other would be allowed on a committee's recommendation, subject to the condition that there is no revenue loss to the Government.
Profits for welfare
In the tribal-dominated areas in southern parts of the State, 26 per cent of profit from new leases will be spent on welfare of tribals. Mr. Gehlot said the new policy would ensure environment protection as well as safety of mine workers.
Collectors would allot land for dumping of waste at appropriate locations and no mineral concession would be granted within 25 metres of forest boundary. No mining activities will be allowed within the notified boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The mine owners will also be made liable for compulsory maintenance of medical and life insurance policies for each worker. Mr. Gehlot said the safety standards would be enforced strictly in the mining areas.
In other decisions, the Cabinet named the Ayurveda University in Jodhpur after Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and made a new provision for local fund audit under technical guidance and supervision of the Auditor-General. Mr. Gehlot said the provision for withholding promotion of government employees on the birth of a third child would not apply in cases where one or both of existing two children are disabled. The Cabinet also extended the pension benefits to divorced Muslim women on producing the Qazi's certificate instead of having to obtain a court decree.
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