NAGPUR | Apr 28, 2015: In line with the coal auctions by the central government, the state too is planning competitive bidding for minerals under its control. The new procedure is expected to be put in place within next 3 to 4 months, said minister of state for industries and mining Pravin Pote-Patil.
He was in the city to attend a meeting with representatives of industrial associations from Vidarbha regarding their problems. Talking to TOI on the sidelines of the meet, Patil said the state government is working out a mechanism to increase revenue from mines. "A system of competitive bidding is expected to be put in place in around four months," he said.
On taking back the old mines for auctioning, Patil said that could lead to litigation. However, there are mines for which the lease period will be ending shortly. Such mines will be auctioned along with the new blocks, he said.
Earlier in the meeting, Patil assured that any government official not cooperating with industrialists in their legitimate demands will be taken to task. Industrialists present at the meeting complained of undue harassment by officials of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). On this, he said such elements will be shunted out.
Patil said the government wants to boost industrialization as a remedy to farm suicides, as it creates jobs.
The minister also stressed that the BJP government was just seven months old and it was too early to expect so many changes from it. "You must also realize that not much has happened in the past 66 years," he said referring to the Congress rule.
As he assured to promptly take up the problems highlighted by industrialists, the minister was also quick to say, "But then our government is also branded as pro-businessmen." Patil warned industrialists not to flout the norms, if they expect help from the government.
The industrialists raised a number of issues related to allotment of land in MIDC estates and lack of facilities in ESIC hospitals, where industrial workers are treated.
Pradeep Khandelwal of Butibori Manufacturers Association raised the issue of ESIC hospitals, which he said had dismal facilities. The industrialists also pressed for differential power tariff for region's industries. High tariff has hit the competitiveness of steel units in Vidarbha as compared to those in Chhattisgarh, which is just 100km from Nagpur, they said.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)