<p>In a recent presentation put before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Mines stressed on the need to expedite the process of granting environmental clearances to revive the crises-hit sector and instill confidence in investors.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sources told Deccan Herald that Anup K Pujari, Ministry of Mines Secretary, said in a recent presentation that expediting the process of giving clearances was vital for the increase of mineral production and would build a stronger system to monitor illegal mining.<br /><br />Pujari also mentioned the need to strengthen the Indian Bureau of Mines and the <br />Geological Survey of India.<br /><br />The pending Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Bill, which failed to get a nod from Parliament during the previous UPA regime, was also discussed during the meeting.<br /> <br />The Bill aims at the development and regulation of mining in the country. After illegal-mining scams hit many mineral-rich states, including Karnataka, state governments were reluctant to grant fresh leases which led to the piling up of a large number of licence applications.<br /><br />Around 99,000 cases of illegal mining were reported in 20 states between 2012 and 2013. In 2011-12, there were 96,000 such cases and about 78,000 in 2010-11. <br /><br />According to Mines ministry data, over 60,000 mineral concession applications are pending. <br /><br />Of the total applications, 42,861 are for mining leases (ML), 19,891 for prospecting licences (PL) and 643 for reconnaissance permits (RP). <br /><br />In Karnataka alone, a total of 19,497 applications are pending out of which 16,446 are MLs. While granting PLs and RPs in a region is mainly for exploratory purposes, the latter is specific to only regional, aerial and geophysical surveys to look at mineral prospects.<br /></p>
<p>In a recent presentation put before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Mines stressed on the need to expedite the process of granting environmental clearances to revive the crises-hit sector and instill confidence in investors.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sources told Deccan Herald that Anup K Pujari, Ministry of Mines Secretary, said in a recent presentation that expediting the process of giving clearances was vital for the increase of mineral production and would build a stronger system to monitor illegal mining.<br /><br />Pujari also mentioned the need to strengthen the Indian Bureau of Mines and the <br />Geological Survey of India.<br /><br />The pending Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Bill, which failed to get a nod from Parliament during the previous UPA regime, was also discussed during the meeting.<br /> <br />The Bill aims at the development and regulation of mining in the country. After illegal-mining scams hit many mineral-rich states, including Karnataka, state governments were reluctant to grant fresh leases which led to the piling up of a large number of licence applications.<br /><br />Around 99,000 cases of illegal mining were reported in 20 states between 2012 and 2013. In 2011-12, there were 96,000 such cases and about 78,000 in 2010-11. <br /><br />According to Mines ministry data, over 60,000 mineral concession applications are pending. <br /><br />Of the total applications, 42,861 are for mining leases (ML), 19,891 for prospecting licences (PL) and 643 for reconnaissance permits (RP). <br /><br />In Karnataka alone, a total of 19,497 applications are pending out of which 16,446 are MLs. While granting PLs and RPs in a region is mainly for exploratory purposes, the latter is specific to only regional, aerial and geophysical surveys to look at mineral prospects.<br /></p>
