(a) whether Government has a proposal to modernise/upgrade mining and allied activities alongwith transport of minerals to ports in the country;
(b) whether any action plan has been formulated in the matter;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to implement such action plan?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINES (DR. DASARI NARAYANA RAO)
(a) to (d) : The Ministry of Mines is responsible for survey and exploration of all minerals, other than Natural gases, Petroleum and Atomic minerals, for mining and metallurgy of Non- ferrous metals like Aluminium, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Gold, Nickel etc. and for administration of the Mines and Minerals(Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 in respect of all mines and minerals other than Coal, Natural gas and Petroleum.
The Ministry of Mines, at present has three Public Sector Undertakings namely, National Aluminium Company Limited(NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited(HCL), Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited(MECL) and the mines are being operated by NALCO and HCL.
With regard to modernisation/upgrading of mining and allied activities the Panchpatmali Bauxite Mine situated at Damanjodi is a fully mechanised under NALCO which serves feed stock to the Alumina Refinery located on the foothills and the ore is transported through a single flight cable belt system. Minor modifications and upgradation of mining activities are being carried out on regular basis. The surplus alumina, meant for export is being transported to Vishakhapattnam port through Railways Network.
Rs.125 crore has been allocated to HCL under 10th Plan (upto 2005-2006) for upgradation of equipment in the open cast copper mine at Malanjkhand and for procurement of new machinery and equipment in the two underground mines at Khetri Copper Complex in the State of Rajasthan. Khetri copper mine is proposed to be upgraded further by construction of an alternate ore pass and sinking of a production shaft in Khetri Copper Mine after carrying out the necessary studies on techno-economic viability next financial year. The entire quantity of Copper is being used by HCL and there is no export of Copper ore by HCL.