Watchdog to track ‘illegal mining’- ‘Sand Mining Framework’ launched to strengthen and frame policies

NewsBharati    20-Mar-2018
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New Delhi, March 20: Highlighting the significance of mining sector, 3rd National Conclave on Mines and Minerals kicked off. Union Minister of Mines Narendra Singh Tomar ‘Sand Mining Framework’ aims to provide a roadmap to the States helping them to frame their policies and act as a check on illegal mining of sand. The conclave aims to strengthen the efforts of the Ministry in enabling the mining sector to contribute its fullest to foster the rapid growth of national economy and employment generation. It will help to further improve the policy environment to promote best practices and addressing various issues in the mining sector. 

Addressing the 3rd National Conclave on Mines and Minerals, Minister Tomar said that there has been a notable turn around in the mining sector ever since government has taken initiative for policy reforms. In the current year up to January, 2018 the mineral production in terms of volume has registered a growth of 6% when compared to same period last year, which he described is a robust one.

Further he said that to make the auction process less cumbersome and help states auction mineral blocks quickly, the Ministry of Mines has amended the Mineral Auction Rules 2015 in November 2017. The amendment has facilitated the auctions in a big way.

A record number of 41 mineral blocks have been put on auction within 3 months of the amendment, whereas 27 blocks were put up on auction earlier in 8 months from April to November 2017. Total estimated revenue to the state government over the lease period from the blocks already auctioned is Rs.1,43,893 Crores.

The Portal for Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna (PMKKKY) monitoring along with Registration and Returns module of Phase I of the Mining Tenement System (MTS) was also launched by the Minister Tomar.

MTS primarily involves automating the entire mineral concession life-cycle, starting from identification of area and ending with closure of the mine; and connecting the various stakeholders for real-time transfer of electronic files and exchange of data. MTS will facilitate end to end national scale accounting of all the minerals produced in the country from the pithead to its end use, reducing the scope for illegal mining.

The PMKKKY scheme is to be implemented by the funds collected under District Mineral Foundations (DMF) to be utilized for the welfare and development of the mining affected areas. The module for monitoring portal of PMKKKY implementation captures from the collection and accrual of funds, to its utilization and monitoring for implementation of projects. Over Rs.17,000/- crores have been collected under PMKKKY and 56,000 projects launched.

A ‘Sand Mining Framework’ which was launched has been prepared by the Ministry of Mines from the study conducted on sand mining in various States and intensive consultations with institutions like National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM), Cement Manufacture Association (CMA), Public and other stakeholders while preparing the sand mining framework.