Complete database project: Par panel to Mines Ministry

A Parliamentary Committee today asked the Mines Ministry to complete setting up of Mining Tenement System (MTA), an online database, and ensure that adequate funds are available for the project.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Steel, chaired by Rakesh Singh, in a report said that the MTS project should be given top priority.
The panel recommended that the ministry should take "adequate steps to ensure selection of implementing agency for MTS is completed without delay and adequate funds be made available to Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) at Revised Estimate (RE) stage during 2016-17 for ensuring that the scheme does not get delayed or suffer due to lack of funds."

The committee raised concern that the plan outlay for 2015-16 of Rs 53 crore, provided to IBM for implementation of various schemes was reduced to Rs 37.93 crore at RE stage, out of which IBM could utilise only Rs 27.40 crore (up to January 2016).
The panel said that MTS, when implemented, would help to develop a online national mineral information system by linking Central and state government organisations engaged in administration of mineral resources.
"...The committee firmly feels that such a crucial scheme should not be allowed to suffer for want of sufficient funds but ought to be given top priority," the report said.

Mines Ministry in its reply said that TCS, Wipro and L&T Infotech has submitted bids for design, development, maintenance and operation of the MTS.

"Technical bids have been opened and are being evaluated in line with technical evaluation criteria provided in Request For Proposal (RFP)," it said.
The technically qualified bidders have been communicated to be in readiness for the technical presentation and proof of concept demonstration for selection of the Implementation Agency, it added.
"It is hoped that the contract would be awarded to the successful bidder within a couple of months time for implementation of the MTS project," the Ministry said.