<p>Deputy Chief Economist of the Union Steel Ministry Dr Susmita Dasgupta was speaking during a session on the last day of the 'International Iron Ore and Steel Making Raw Materials' conference.<br /><br />"Coal and iron would soon be major issues determining the national politics. We must remember that natural resources are a very finite matter. If we are surrendering our natural resources for the manufactured goods from another country, it is a colonial pattern of trade," she said.<br /><br />"Exporting raw material to China and importing finished good from them is similar to the Colonial trade, which India had faced during the East India Company regime" the official said.<br /><br />She said that on the lines of USA and Australia, India should also have a comprehensive policy document on mining, to ensure that interests of those, other than the mine-owners, are not harmed in anyway.<br /><br />"In the US, mining laws are very strong. Consumers can take miners to court if their interests are jeopardised. India is not operating out on a long term plan or vision, with respect to its natural resources," Dasgupta added.<br /><br />The two-day long conference had representatives from India, China and Indonesia, deliberating on the future of iron ore industry, considering the current crisis in the sector.</p>
<p>Deputy Chief Economist of the Union Steel Ministry Dr Susmita Dasgupta was speaking during a session on the last day of the 'International Iron Ore and Steel Making Raw Materials' conference.<br /><br />"Coal and iron would soon be major issues determining the national politics. We must remember that natural resources are a very finite matter. If we are surrendering our natural resources for the manufactured goods from another country, it is a colonial pattern of trade," she said.<br /><br />"Exporting raw material to China and importing finished good from them is similar to the Colonial trade, which India had faced during the East India Company regime" the official said.<br /><br />She said that on the lines of USA and Australia, India should also have a comprehensive policy document on mining, to ensure that interests of those, other than the mine-owners, are not harmed in anyway.<br /><br />"In the US, mining laws are very strong. Consumers can take miners to court if their interests are jeopardised. India is not operating out on a long term plan or vision, with respect to its natural resources," Dasgupta added.<br /><br />The two-day long conference had representatives from India, China and Indonesia, deliberating on the future of iron ore industry, considering the current crisis in the sector.</p>