CONFERENCE OF STATE MINISTERS OF MINING AND GEOLOGY TO DISCUSS
MINING AND MINERAL SECTOR ISSUES
Shri Ram Vilas Paswan,
Minister for Coal and Mines has convened a Conference of the State
Ministers of Mining and Geology on May 1, 2002 to discuss and
adopt recommendations of Mineral Advisory Council. The Mineral
Advisory Council is the apex think tank for the mining and the
mineral sector in the non-fuel minerals category. The Council
is meeting on April 30, 2002 to consider inter alia issues relating
to implementation of the Mineral Policy and legislation, adoption
of United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) of mineral resources,
issues related to forests and environment with a bearing on mining
sector, fiscal issues affecting the mining sector, issues related
to export and import of minerals, infrastructure related issues
and landmark Supreme Court judgements with a bearing on the mining
sector.
The Mineral
Advisory Council consists of Secretaries in charge of Mining and
Geology along with Directors of Mining and Geology in the State
Governments, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, the
representatives of mining and mineral industries, important Research
and Development as well as academic institutions in the mining
and mineral sector, and the Central Departments and Ministries
concerned with the mining and mineral industries including the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission etc.
Shri
Paswan had taken a bold initiative in November 2001 of convening
a Tripartite Meeting of the Central Government, State Governments
and the Investors in the Mining Sector. The Minister after personally
hearing the suggestions of the investors in the mining sector
for removing the operational bottlenecks and paving the way for
further investment in the mining sector took a prompt action in
getting the rules amended in January, 2002 to provide for specific
time periods for conveying of decisions on applications for mineral
concessions and for approval of mining plans. A series of inter
Departmental meetings have also been held as a follow-up measure
to enable inter-departmental coordination on environment and forestry
related issues, civil aviation related issues for aerial prospecting
and issues relating to availability of geological maps and data
concerning the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and
Customs authorities.
The meeting of
the Mineral Advisory Council and the Conference of State Ministers
of Mining and Geology will discuss and deliberate on a large number
of issues based upon the suggestions received from the stake holders
in the mining and mineral sector
