(a) whether huge reserves of manganese ore are available in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Andhra Pradesh;
(c) the total revenue generated from the said ore; and
(d) the criteria for granting mining rights of manganese ore?
THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION(SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE)
(a) & (b) State-wise information on reserves/resources of manganese ore is
given the Indian Minerals Year Book, published by the Indian Bureau of Mines, a
copy of which is supplied to the Parliament Library on regular basis.
(c) The State Governments collect royalty as the owners of minerals. For this
reason, the information on total revenue generated from manganese ore is not centrally
maintained.
(d) The State Government as the owner of minerals grant mining leases for mineral
manganese ore in terms of the criteria given in the Mines and Minerals(Development
and Regulation)Act,1957 and Mineral Concession Rules,1960. Since, mineral manganese
is included in the First Schedule of the MMDR Act, prior permission of Central
Government is mandatory.