Tomar gets back mines ministry, to focus on auction of blocks

Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who got back the charge of the mines ministry today, stressed on the need to expedite the process of auction of mineral blocks and said a road map for the mining sector will be prepared soon.
"We have to expedite the process of auction. And if the auction process is fast-racked, the mining sector would contribute a lot to the economy," Tomar, who is also holding rural development and panchayati raj portfolio, told reporters here.
Tomar took charge of the Mines Ministry in the presence of his predecessor Piyush Goyal, who has now been promoted as the Minister of Railways.

"I am sitting with my officers the day after tomorrow. Today is our first day....We will also prepare a roadmap for the future," the minister said.
"As far as the process of auction is concerned, it has to be executed through states. The things can be expedited after consultations with the states and we will make efforts in that direction," he added.
Tomar further said, "Before me, Piyush Goyal was looking at this ministry. He has toiled hard in this ministry....We in close in close coordination with states will do all the work which has been left," Tomar said.

Labelling the mines ministry as a "a good ministry", Tomar said that there is always a lot of scope for work in the mining sector.

Tomar, who was also holding the mines portfolio in his earlier stint from May 2014 to July 2016, said there will be no gaps in the working of the ministry and he will continue with better speed the work done by his predecessor.
Tomar said a lot has been done so far but there is always more scope for doing better and fast work in the mining sector.
He said, with the Amendment in the MMDR Act in 2015, the auctions of mines so far has led to an additional revenue of over Rs 1,22,000 crore accruing to the states during the life span of the mines in 50 years.

In addition, the amount collected in the DMF funds in the districts affected by the mining activities is over Rs 1,000 crore till now, which will be spent in the development of these very districts and the people of these districts.
He said, the mining sector is a priority area for the Modi government and the use of latest technology will bring further transparency and better monitoring in the mining sector.