Page 6 - Mines

Miners want blocks free from encumbrances at auctions

As development of a mine gets stuck due to delays in obtaining a string of approvals, miners have asked for making the process hassle free at the stage of auctions.Before a mining block is offered for auctions as direct ML (mining lease), the concerned state government should ensure that it is free from all encumbrances."The mining lease being auctioned should be free from all encumbrances. No issue related to forest land, wild life sanctuary, proximity to protected monuments and permission from the land owners should crop up once the successful bidder starts obtaining clearances for land", said R K Sharma, secretary general with the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (Fimi).In case of auction of a mineral block as direct ML, the successful bidder is tied to a time bound programme to develop the mines and to bring the mine to production failing which the bidder is liable to face penalties.The preferred bidder who wins the mineral block at auctions gets a Letter of Intent (LoI) ...

Pollution watchdog slaps notices on two chromite mines of IMFA

Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has served notices on two chromite mines of Indian Metals and Ferroalloys (IMFA), the leading ferroalloys producer in the country. Incidentally, IMFA is promoted by the family of Baijayant Panda, a senior BJD leader and MP, who has raked up a political storm by exposing certain weakness in the functioning of the ruling party in Odisha through his Twitter handle and newspaper articles. OSPCB notices have been served on IMFA's Kaliapani mines in the Sukinda valley on the ground of violation of air and water pollution norms. IMFA is India's largest fully integrated producer of ferroalloys with 187 MVA installed furnace capacity backed up by 258 MW captive power generation. The two mines measuring 116.76 hectare and 73.77 hectare were producing over 0.8 million tonne of chrome ore per annum which are used to produce ferrochrome by the company.OSPCB has asked the company to explain within 15 days why the 'consent to operate' (CTO) granted to ...

Centre asks states to speed up pending mining lease cases

Urgency stems from the fact that leases would lapse if applications aren't processed before Jan 11

Mines ministry unlikely to lift export duty on high grade iron ore

Fimi, Odisha and Jharkhand have been lobbying for removal of 30% export duty on high grade ore

India mines minerals worth Rs 17,339 cr in July

Of this, the contribution from coal was the highest with 36 per cent share at Rs 6,238 crore

Ores dumped can't be touched till SC orders: Goa mines dept

Six-member committee constituted by the apex court is yet to decide on how to deal with the minerals lying as dumps

Mines Min working on action plan to raise contribution in GDP

Mines Secretary told that by the end of this financial year, ministry expect states will be able to auction 70-80 mines

States seek green clearance for mining & exploration

Mines Ministry pitches for tripartite agreement to fast tract exploration

Govt to set up online portal for monitoring mine clearances

Out of the total 47 blocks, auction was deferred for 16 mines due to 'insufficient number of applications found at the time of opening of initial bids'