BHUBANESWAR | Jan 16, 2015: The Centre has convened a meeting of the mines ministers of the mineral-bearing States on January 19 following strong objections to the promulgation of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation Amendment) Ordinance without taking the States into confidence.
Minister of State for Steel and Mines Prafulla Kumar Mallik had a meeting of senior officials of the Steel and Mines department, including Secretary R K Sharma, on Thursday to discuss the impact of the ordinance on the mining sector of the State. “There are some grey areas for which we have sought the opinion of the Law department,” he said.
The Minister said that the State Government cannot implement its decision to auction mines till 2020 as all mines running on deemed provision will get extension because of the ordinance. The State Government will proceed on the issue after receiving the opinion of the Law department.
“The State Government wanted the central revisional authority to be abolished and empower States to levy on minerals, but these suggestions have not been taken into account,” Mallik said and added that these issues will be raised at the meeting convened by the Centre.
He, however, said there is no point in convening a meeting after the promulgation of the ordinance. The meeting should have been convened before promulgation of the ordinance, he said.
Besides ignoring Odisha’s suggestions on amendments to the MMRD Act, the ordinance has also made the State Cabinet’s decision for auctioning of mines for allotment meaningless. The tenure of the mineral lease has been increased from the existing 30 to 50 years by the ordinance.
The ordinance further provides that the mining leases would be deemed to be extended from the date of their last renewal to March 31, 2030 in the case of captive mines and till March 31, 2020 for merchant miners.
The Supreme Court had on May, 2014 ordered closure of 26 iron ore and manganese mines in Odisha. Eight of these mines were allowed to be run on express order later. “The State Government may approach the SC again on this issue,” the Minister said.
(Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/)