Muniyappa to meet Union mines minister on KGF revival plan

The Centre's plan to revive the Kolar gold mines by floating a global tender is a step in the right direction, Union minister KH Muniyappa said today, adding that he would meet the Union Mines minister to request him to expedite the process.

"In a landmark judgement, Supreme Court has approved the decision to float a global tender to revive Kolar gold mines.

"Next week I'm meeting the Mines Minister and will request him to expedite the process," Muniyappa, the Micro, Small and Medium Industries minister, said.

Muniyappa, who is an MP from the region, was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Karnataka Small Scale Industries' Association event here.

The Centre's call for global tenders also allows the workers' forum to come up with a bid to run the mine, Muniyappa said while highlighting the plan.

"The highest bidder would be given the job of running the mines. It is the responsibility of the bidder to pay employees the quantum of money or arrears they are entitled to," he added.

Bharat Gold Mines Limited was shut down in 2001, leaving over 3,000 employees jobless. That decision had been challenged by the employees in court.

Karnataka High Court had earlier said that the Centre should revive BGML on its own and not float a global tender for the same. But the Centre had challenged the HC ruling in Supreme Court.

On the small-scale industries scene, he said: "We will suggest that all states have a separate department, minister and secretariat for MSME. Some states already have this; let all states now have the same."