Amendments to MMDR Act to be introduced in winter session of Parliament

Mines Ministry taking into consideration view of various state govts

Mines minister Narendra Singh Tomar today said amendments to the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, 1957 would be carried in the coming session of Parliament, in an effort to strengthen the mining sector that has been hit by illegalities in several mineral states.

"We are working on changes to the MMDR Amendment Bill that was tabled in 2011-12 by the previous government. The Bill could not be passed as it lapsed with the completion of the term of the Parliament. However, we wish to reintroduce the Bill with certain changes in the coming session," Tomar said.

The ministry of mines is fine tuning the Bill with certain changes and taking into consideration the view of various state governments, he told reporters, here after inaugurating the 5th international Mining, Exploration Convention and Trade Show organised by the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI).

The ministry has sought comments from states like Goa, Karnataka, Odisha and Chhattisgarh among others. It has also elicited views from other industry stakeholders including FIMI.

The government would take into consideration views and recommendations of the Shah Commission and recent Supreme Court verdicts. There will be greater transparency in the allotment of mining leases among other things, he added.

He also said it was the 'greed' of the profit-oriented mining industry that led to the current mess in the industry and resulted in the intervention of the judiciary.

Speaking on the occasion, NMDC Limited Chairman and Managing Director Narendra Kothari said the company would increase its annual iron ore production capacity to 32 million tonnes during the current fiscal.

It had produced 30 million tonnes in 2013-14. The company has also embarked on exploration of new mines in several states including Karnataka, he said.

The company would commission its new 1.2 million tonne capacity pellet plant at Donimalai in Bellary district of Karnataka during the current year. This is its first foray into manufacture of value added products, he added.