(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce a new mining policy/bill replacing the
Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 1957 for effective check of illegal mining
and to empower the people settled around mining areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the salient features of the proposed bill;
(c) whether the Government has made any provision in the bill for setting up of the
National Mining Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to investigate and prosecute miners involved in
illegal mining;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by which the provisions of the bill are likely to be implemented?