Chhattisgarh has taken the lead in the country with launch of five projects under Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) in insurgency infested Dantewada district of Bastar, the Central Government has informed. The projects are funded through District Mineral Fund (DMF) under PMKKKY. Other state Governments are also processing their projects under PMKKKY. This was informed in a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Mines was held in New Delhi on Thursday for reviewing the “Steps to Expand/Promote Mining Sector” .
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal had chaired the meeting.
In his opening remarks, Goyal had informed the Committee members that the Ministry of Mines is regularly monitoring the implementation of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) and Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY).
Notably, DMF is to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations, which is to be funded out of the contribution received from holders of mining lease.
As per the latest information available 10 states have framed the rules for DMF and constituted DMFs and a total of Rs 1427.2 crore has been collected through contributions to DMF across the states.
On the occasion, Secretary, Mines, Balvinder Kumar made a detailed presentation giving highlights of achievements of the Mines Ministry during 2015-16.
The presentation also gave an overview of major initiatives and activities being undertaken by the Ministry of Mines. Reforms in the mining sector have been initiated through the amendment to MMDR Act, 1957 through the MMDR Amendment Ordinance, 2015 that was replaced by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, notified on 27th March, 2015 and which came into effect from January 12, 2015.
He detailed out the salient provisions of the MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2015.
Kumar said that Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2016 and Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (OAMDR) (Amendment) are under active consideration.
Constitution of Inter-Ministerial Group, post Auction mining Clearances and Approvals Facilitator (PAMCAF) to facilitate and expedite various clearances/ approvals required after the mineral block is allocated through e- auction, it was informed.
Elaborating the ‘Steps to Expand/ Promote Mining Sector’, Kumar said that the Ministry of Mines in its recently released National Mineral Exploration Policy-2016, has identified many activities for accelerating mineral exploration in the country. Action towards taking up these activities have already been initiated by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), he said. Transparency is ensured in grant of mineral concessions through e-Auction of mineral blocks. The organisations of Ministry of Mines viz. GSI, MECl and IBM are offering intensive hand holding of State Governments in identification of mineral blocks for auction, Kumar said.