(a) whether the present `Mining Legislation` is comprehensive Act and includes the provisions of other essential acts namely Mining Act, 1952, Mines & Minerals(Development & Registration)Act 1957 and Forests Conservation Act & Environment Protection Act; and
(b) if not, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to make a `Task Force` to draft such a integrated and comprehensive Act?
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS, SPORTS AND MINES (SHRI SUKHDEV SINGH DHINDSA)
(a) Entry 54 of List I - Union List of the Seventh Schedule
to the Constitution gives powers to the Central Government for
regulation of mines and mineral development to the extent to
which such regulation and development under the control of the
Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the
public interest. Accordingly, Mines and Minerals(Development &
Regulation)Act,1957(MMDR) has been enacted and is being
administered by Ministry of Mines. The laws of the land framed
and administered by different Ministries for specific purposes
and which have a bearing on the mining sector like the Mines Act
1952, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Environment
(Protection) Act,1986 etc. are also applicable to the mining
sector.
(b) There is no proposal to constitute a Task Force to draft
such an integrated and comprehensive Act.