JOIN USWith the mining industry putting pressure on the Centre to solve the crises in the sector, the Mines Ministry is likely to review the lapsed Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011 that provided for sharing of 26 per cent of profits with the project-affected people.
Ministry officials are holding meetings with various stakeholders on the issue and will take a final view whether to continue with the existing law or review it, sources told Deccan Herald.
The lapsed bill envisages a competitive bidding process to encourage the participation of private parties in mining and also seeks to empower state governments to set up special courts for the speedy trial of offences relating to illegal mining. Union Mining Secretary Anup Pujari also recently hinted that the new government will take a view on the lapsed bill.
Seeking to replace a more than half-a-century-old law, the UPA-II government in 2011 had tabled the MMDR Bill, 2011 in the Lok Sabha in December, 2011. But, the bill lapsed as the previous government failed to pass it in Parliament.
The 1957 Act of the same name has already been amended several times and further amendments may not clearly reflect the objects emanating from the New National Mineral Policy, sources said.
The Mines Ministry is under pressure from the industry to revive the sector which was hit by crises due to illegal mining activities in several states, including Karnataka, Goa and Odisha.
The new government needs to resolve issues concerning coal and mining sector to boost the sagging manufacturing sector in India, KPMG has suggested recently in its latest study.