At a meeting with officers of public sector undertakings Steel Authority of India and National Aluminium Company limited in New Delhi on Tuesday, Union Mining and Steel Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Madhya Pradesh Energy and Mineral Resources Development Minister Rajendra Shukla reviewed progress of MoUs signed for various projects at Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit-2014.
The meeting also discussed 31 minerals which were major minerals earlier but have been declared minor ones due to implementation of new Amendment Act-2015. Union Secretary Mining Anup K Pujari and State’s Secretary Mineral Resources Shiv Shekhar Shukla were also present at the meeting.
Union Minister Tomar asked officers of SAIl and NAlCO for time-bound action to give concrete shape to projects. He asked SAIl’s officers to accelerate pace of prospecting of iron ore, exploration of iron ore mineral bed and complete formalities to reserve them in Chhatarpur and Tikamgarh districts.
Minister Shukla assured all possible cooperation for State Mineral Development Corporation and administration in this regard. It is noteworthy that SAIl will establish a Rs6000 crore plant in Madhya Pradesh. Raw material for the plant will also be made available from the State for which iron ore deposits are being explored. Besides, other types of minerals will also be explored in these areas. The Ministers directed to complete geological mapping of iron ore deposits in 2 months.
National Aluminium Company limited (NAlCO) is to establish a smelting plant in Madhya Pradesh. While giving information about works till day, NAlCO officers informed that Singrauli district is suited to establishment of this plant. Smelting plant can be established there due to availability of coal block and power plant. The project costing Rs25,000 crore will provide employment to over 20,000 people. The Ministers directed to identity necessary land for the project and complete formalities of coal block allotment from Centre at the earliest.