MMDR Bill to get prominence in Mines Min's meet with PM

The likely content and contour of a new MMDR Bill will find a prominent place as the Mines Ministry gives presentation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated for tomorrow.
Seeking to replace a more than half-a-century-old law, a new Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011 was tabled in the Lok Sabha by the UPA-II government in December 2011. But it could not be passed and thus stand lapsed now.
Sources said the Mines Ministry will pitch for legislating the Act in the Budget session itself and seek Prime Minister's views on various issues like profit-sharing with the project-affected people.

Mines Secretary Anup Pujari, who will give presentation to the Prime Minister, today briefed Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on it. Modi has asked both senior and junior ministers to be present at the time of the presentation.
The lapsed MMDR Bill, 2011 had provided for sharing of 26 per cent of profits with the project-affected people. It had also envisaged introduction of competitive bidding process to encourage the participation of private parties in the sector.
The 1957 Act of the same name has already been amended several times and further amendments may not clearly reflect the objects emanating from the New National Mineral Policy.

The MMDR Bill, 2011 had also sought to empower the state governments to constitute special courts for the purpose of providing speedy trial of the offences related to illegal mining.

It also intended to empower the central government to intervene in the cases of illegal mining where the concerned state government fails to take action.
Meanwhile, Steel Secretary G Mohan Kumar also briefed Tomar on the presentation. Sources said, Kumar will pitch for creating an enabling environment to ensure the targetted 300 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) capacity by 2025-30 from around 96 mtpa now.
The proposals include ensuring raw material and cheaper credit to the sector and allowing it duty-free imports of raw material.

Modi will also meet tomorrow several other ministers such as labour and employment, textiles and MSME.