Mines Min to form IMG for post-auction clearances, approvals

In a bid to fast track mining activity in the country, the Mines Ministry will constitute an Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) that will expedite post-auction clearances and approvals of mineral blocks.
"The Ministry of Mines decides to constitute IMG i.E. post-auction mining clearances and approvals facilitator," Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar Minister said in tweet.
The IMG, which will be chaired by Mines Secretary, will be called Post-Auction Mining Clearances and Approvals Facilitator (PAMCAF).
Besides the Mines Ministry, PAMCAF will also have officials from the ministries of Environment and Forests, Railways, Petroleum and Department of Industrial Policy and promotion among others. The group will also have senior officials from the concerned department from the state governments as well.

In context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative, it is imperative that auctioned mineral blocks come to production stage with shortest possible gestation period, an official document said.
The successful bidder is required to obtain several clearances and approvals after it has been allocated the mineral block through e-auction.

Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in March last year, which stipulates that mines can only be allocated through an auction process.
The official document said that e-auction process has laid the foundation stone for ease of doing business, which will be defeated if there is "undue delay" in approvals and clearances.

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Jayachandra said the cabinet also approved the formation of 'Invest Karnataka', a non-profit company, to promote industries in the state.
The company will provide technical solutions to investors for the development of project proposals and development of market intelligence. Nine persons, industrialists and government officers, will be on the board of the company.
The cabinet also invoked the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities (PBMMSEC) Act, 1980, to check rampant ongoing hoarding and black marketing of foodgrains under PDS, Jayachandra said.
The act facilitates for detaining teh accused for six months, he said.