The government has set up a 29-member committee with the task of revisiting the National Mineral Policy, 2008 and preparing a new one keeping in mind the measures already taken and may need to be taken for bringing in further transparency, balanced soil and economic growth and sustainability of the mining industry.
Though the mines and mineral (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 came into effect for quite sometime now, apart from bringing in the auction route for allocation of mines, there had not been major changes to the nearly 10-year old mineral policy. The wake up call came from the recent Supreme Court judgment in the Odisha mining scam.
The Apex court also directed the centre, which has long been empowered to frame the rules, to revisit the national mineral policy and announce a fresh and more meaningful and implementable policy before December, 31, 2017. The Centre has asked the committee, headed by the additional secretary in the ministry of mines, to submit the report by October 31, 2017.
The committee will provide recommendations for conservation and mineral development and protection of environment. It will also suggest measures to assess the carrying capacity of mining states.
The committee, which has also representative from FIMI and leading industry chambers such as CII and FICCI, will also recommend on the measures for improvement of survey and exploration of minerals, on revamping the database of mineral resources and tenements, scientific methods of mining, manpower development, and infrastructure development.
It will also make suggestions on the required financial support for mining and research in the sector. The committee will also examine and review fiscal aspects conducive to the promotion of mineral exploration and development, including beneficiation and other forms of product refinement.
It has also been asked to examine and make recommendations for development of strategic minerals. Mining sector contributes about 2.4% of the GDP and employs over a million.
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