NO MINING LEASE FOR BAUXITE TO ANY MULTINATIONAL COMPANY

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RAJYA SABHA

No Mining lease has been granted for Bauxite in favour of any multinational company. This was stated by the Minister of Mines Shri Ramesh Bais in a written reply to the question of Shri Janeshwar Mishra in Rajya Sabha today.

Shri Bais stated that Mining leases are granted by the State Government as per provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the rules made thereunder. Before granting reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease in respect of minerals included in the First Schedule to the MMDR Act, the State Governments are required to seek approval of the Central Government. These proposals are processed and disposed of by the Central Government as per various provisions of the said Act. Under Section 5(1) of this Act, only an Indian national or a company registered in India can be granted a mineral concession. As per information furnished by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), a subordinate office of the Ministry of Mines, no mining lease has been granted for bauxite in favour of any multinational company.