(a) whether the State Governments are giving away mining of mineral resources to the
private companies without following the due diligence, transparent procedures;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Union Government thereto?
(a) whether the State Governments are giving away mining of mineral resources to the
private companies without following the due diligence, transparent procedures;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Union Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINES (SHRI DINSHA PATEL)
(a) & (b): The State Governments are competent to grant mineral concessions viz.
Reconnaissance Permit (RP), Prospecting Licence (PL) and Mining Lease (ML) under the provisions
of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957. However, prior
approval of the Central Government is required under Section 5 (1) of the Act for grant of
RP, PL and ML in respect of Atomic and Metallic Minerals specified in Parts ‘B’ and ‘C’ of the
First Schedule to the Act. Subsequent to the prior approval of the Central Government, mining
leases etc. are executed by the State Governments with the mining agencies after following the
due procedures i.e. obtaining forest and environment clearances and approval of mining plan
from the Indian Bureau of Mines.
(c): Whilst processing the proposals recommended by the State Governments for prior approval
of the Central Government, the Ministry of Mines examines the same in the light of the
provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957, the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 and the guidelines
framed thereunder, and where necessary, in consultation with the State Governments and
specialized agencies like the Indian Bureau of Mines, the Geological Survey of India and the
Department of Atomic Energy. The Ministry of Mines is conscious of its responsibility to
ensure that the mineral concession regime functions in a transparent and efficient manner.
In this regard, the Ministry has, in consultation with the State Governments, issued the
following guidelines:-
(i) Comprehensive guidelines dated 24th June, 2009, in order to bring more clarity in
processing the mineral concession proposals. The guidelines also seek to ensure application
of uniform criteria by the State Governments while examining and recommending proposals to the
Central Government.
(ii) Guidelines dated 9.2.2010 on ‘special reasons’ to be adopted by all State Governments
while recommending a mineral concession proposal in favour of a later applicant in a
non-notified area.
(iii) Guidelines dated 13.10.2010 regards maps in order to ensure that the areas recommended
by the State Governments for mineral concessions are clearly demarcated.
All the above-mentioned guidelines are available on the Ministry’s website (mines.nic.in).
The website of the Ministry of Mines is also linked to Mineral Concession Access System to
provide current status of mineral concession applications to the public.