In a virtual meeting with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Union Minister of Mining and Coal Pralhad Joshi on Friday appreciated Chhattisgarh for becoming the first state to announce auction of mineral blocks as suggested by the Centre.
A total of 16 new iron ore and limestone deposits will be auctioned in Chhattisgarh in the next two-three months of the first phase, an ofificial communication said.
Joshi congratulated Baghel and the Mineral Department officials for taking this initiative.
The Chief Minister requested Joshi to reserve the Bailadila Iron Ore Mine-1 in favour of CMDC to promote iron ore based industrialization in Bastar region and to make iron ore easily available to local iron-ore based industries.
Baghel said that industrialization can be a good medium to eradicate Naxalism in Bastar region. The Union Minister assured necessary initiative in this direction.
Baghel also requested that the Minister in-charge of the district should be allowed to continue as the ex-officio President in the District Mineral Trust (DMF).
Joshi assured the Chief Minister that the demand to authorize the state government for grade determination in SECL mines will be taken into consideration and positive initiatives will be taken in this regard.
Baghel demanded early transfer of Rs 4,100 crores recovered from private coal mines operated before 2014 as per a Supreme Court order to Chhattisgarh.
He sought allotment of the Tara coal block to CMDC. He said that in case of non-availability of this block, any coal block from Doresara, Jharpalam or Jarekela in Raigarh should be reserved for CMDC.
Baghel also wanted the royalty rate of ROM of iron ore to be fixed separately, considering the evasion and expected impact on the revenue because of the huge variation in the royalty rates of lumps and fine ore from the iron-ore mines in the state.
The Union Minister promised that before any system is implemented, it will be ensured that the state government does not suffer any loss of revenue.