Centre to hold workshops on mines Ordinance

The Centre will hold orientation sessions for stakeholders from next week in different states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to explain the provisions of MMDR Ordinance.

President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to the Ordinance, paving the way for auctioning of mines containing minerals such as iron ore and bauxite.

"Ministry of mines will be holding a day-long conference/ worshop/orientation session in all the State capitals with the officers dealing with the mining issues and stakeholders," an official source said.

The sessions will start from next week, and completed by February 8, he said, adding that this idea was floated by steel and mines minister, Narendra Singh Tomar at a meeting held recently which was welcomed by all the state ministers.

The mines secretary wrote to the chief secretaries of the states like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telengana on holding a day-long conference in various states.

The conferences will involve state officials in the first half of the day, followed by participation from various stakeholders (industry associations, miners and users of minerals), the source said.

"The objective of this exercise is to educate the mines officials and stakeholders and get feedback from them," he said.

The Ordinance, which amends the 57-year old MMDR Act, provides for granting mines for 50 years through a competitive bidding route including e-auction.

The Ordinance empowers the Centre to prescribe terms and conditions and procedure for bidding which include production sharing or royalty payment or a combination of both.

"For the purpose of granting a mining lease in respect of any notified mineral in such notified area, the state government shall select, through auction by a method of competitive bidding, including e-auction ...," said the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015.