(a) whether the iron ore fines are sold without auctioning resulting into the loss of our
natural resources;
(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to conduct a high level enquiry against mines owners and public sector units in order to check the loss of natural resources;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the quantity of iron ore fines produced in the country during each of the last three
years and the current year, State-wise including Jharkhand?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINES (SHRI DINSHA PATEL)
(a): State Governments as the owners of minerals grant mineral concession, including mining
leases, and in case of minerals in First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals Development and
Regulation Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), which includes iron ore, prior approval of the Central
Government is necessary before lease deeds are entered by the State Government with the lessee.
As per the model Mining lease given in Form K in the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, a lessee
is entitled to enter in the lease area and to search for mine, bore, dig, drill for, win,
work, dress, process, convert, carry away and dispose of minerals in the lease, after payment
of royalty as per Section 9 of the MMDR Act. The MMDR Act or Rules framed thereunder does not
provide for any mode or procedure for selling of minerals, including iron ore fines in any
particular manner.
(b)&(c):Does not arise in view of (a) above.
(d): State-wise production of Iron ore fines in the country for the last three years and
the current year is given below:
(unit: `000’ tonnes)
STATE 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 (upto Dec. 2010)
ANDHRA PRADESH 3978 5238 2759 267 CHHATTISGARH 17965 18925 14960 11431 GOA (including concentrates) 24796 25670 30719 16782 JHARKHAND 10983 11471 12296 9431 KARNATAKA 27458 28310 27016 18648 MADHYA PRADESH 1954 325 977 858 MAHARASHTRA 315 119 103 181 ORISSA 27947 30502 38085 28833 TOTAL: 115396 120560 126915 86431