(a) whether a number of steel companies have entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs)
with the State Government for mineral explorations;
(b) if so, the details thereof company-wise, State-wise;
(c) the number of companies which have been granted mining leases, company- wise, State-wise and
mineral wise; and
(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure constant supply of raw
minerals like iron-ore supplies to the newly established steel companies?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICAL AND FERTILIZER AND MINES (SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE)
(a) & (b) Details of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed by steel companies with State
Governments for mineral exploration are not centrally maintained. However, as per the informat
ion available in the Ministry of Mines, the State Governments of Orissa, Jharkhand,Chhattisgarh
and Madhya Pradesh have signed MoUs with steel companies to set up steel plants in the respective
States and such companies have applied to the respective State Governments for grant of mineral
concessions.
( c ) The details of prior approval conveyed by Ministry of Mines to the State Governments in
the last ten years for grant of mining leases in respect of minerals included in the First
Schedule of Mines and Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act,1957 are available on the website
of Ministry of Mines (www.mines.nic.in.)
(d) The Government has enunciated a new National Mineral Policy in March 2008 which encourages
the user industry to develop long term linkages with the mineral producing units, including
equity participation in mining companies.