Promising to curb the menace of illegal mining, new Mining Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said he would ensure transparent policy for mines allocation.
Tomar, who assumed charge on Friday, told reporters that he would take steps to remove all bottlenecks for grant of long-pending mining licenses.
Apart from Mines, Tomar, also holds two other ministries Steel and Labour and Employment. On the issue of illegal mining, he said his government “in consultation with states will work in such a fashion that the menace is curbed. There will be a better coordination with the states.”
About 99,000 cases of illegal mining were reported in 20 states in 2012-13. In 2011-12, the number of cases stood at about 96,000 while the same were recorded at about 78,000 in 2010-11. The minister said that states will be asked to expedite leases pending for want of regulatory hurdles, green nod etc.
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