Question : MINING POWER TO STATES

(a) whether the Union Government proposes to grant powers to the State to sanction/approve the mining of minerals enlisted under Parts A and C of First Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether some members of the Hoda Committee dissented with the recommendations of the Committee;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether a consensus has emerged among the State Governments on the recommendations of the Committee; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION. (SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE)

(a) : State Governments are the owners of the minerals and mineral rights vest in the State Government.

(b) : Does not arise in view of (a) above.

(c) to (f) : The representatives from State Government of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Karnataka raised concerns on dilution of powers of the State Governments. These concerns were discussed with the Governments of chief mineral producing States and based on the resolution achieved with them, a National Mineral Policy, 2008, was enunciated by the Government on 13.3.2008.