Tata Steel Managing Director H M Nerurkar also expressed

concern over the closure of mines in Karnataka and Goa and loss of jobs of thousands of locals there and stressed the need for eco-friendly mining. There was a need for whole-hearted commitment towards sustainable mining. Mining industry must address environment and social concerns, he said. Manganese Ore India Ltd (MOIL) Chairman and Managing Director G P Kundargi said the main challenge today is technological innovation and the protection of already fragile environment. One of the challenge is to satisfy concerns of the population residing in and around the existing and proposed mining projects who take the direct impact of environmental degradation due to mining and allied activities, he said. Mining Engineers Association of India (NEAI) National Oresident S K Sarangi and other experts also spoke on the occasion.