BHUBANESWAR | Feb 12, 2017: Obtaining statutory clearances from different government departments being major hurdles in mining operation, the Ministry of Mines has launched a new portal for bringing in more transparency mining-related activities.
The Mines Ministry has developed a Transparency Auction Monitoring and Resource Augmentation (TAMRA) portal and mobile application which will facilitate in expediting the clearances associated with the mining blocks and help all stakeholders to track status of statutory clearances, official sources said.
"This will be an interactive platform for all the stakeholders to compress the timelines for statutory and other clearances. Gestation period for commencing production will be minimised, the sources said.
Further, TAMRA covers block-wise, state-wise and mineral-wise information of the blocks to be auctioned, monitors various statutory clearances and highlights the additional resources generated through e-auction.
In case of delay in obtaining any clearance, TAMRA will send messages to the authority concerned so that the remedial steps can be taken immediately.
The Ministry of Mines will also receive alerts generated by the portal and will facilitate in expediting clearances. The portal also enables successful bidder to give suggestions and inputs.
The most important clearances required for a mining lease are forest, environment and land acquisition. Timelines are set against each of the clearances. The portal has been developed with an objective to enhance transparency and accountability as a part of the ease of doing business in the mining sector, the sources maintained.
As per the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2015, all the mines will be put to auction. Though the MMDR Act had a saving clause under Section 10A(2)(C) for those mining lease (ML) applications approved by the Centre or in favour of which the state governments had issued letters of intent before the new Act, the last date for execution of lease deed was January 11.
Meanwhile, the state government has auctioned three mining blocks, one iron ore, one limestone and one manganese block.
Essar Steel bagged the Ghorhaburhani-Sagasahi iron ore block in Sundargarh district last year from which the state government expects revenue of nearly Rs 11,328 crore in 50 years.
This year Dalmia Cement Limited and Thriveni Earthmovers Private Limited (TEPL) won the bid for the Kottameta limestone in Malkangiri district and Lasarda-Pacheri manganese blocks in Keonjhar district respectively.
(Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/)