Karnataka plans 'Investors Meet' to boost mining sector

Nirani said he has initiated some reforms to revamp his department

Karnataka is planning to host a ‘Mining Investors Meet’ to not only attract investments but also rebrand the mining sector that is mostly perceived to be corrupt, Mines & Geology Minister Murugesh Nirani said Friday.

Nirani said this during a Facebook live event with DH.

“We want to organize a Mining Investors Meet on the lines of the Global Investors Meet,” Nirani said. He was the industries minister when Karnataka hosted the Global Investors Meet in 2010 and 2012.

“We are discussing this and we plan to have it next year once the Covid-19 pandemic goes. I will discuss this with the chief minister. We will need a year’s time to prepare,” Nirani said. “The mining sector needs rebranding as it is perceived to be corrupt,” he added.

Nirani, who was inducted into Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s Cabinet a little over a month ago, said he has initiated some reforms to revamp his department.

One of the reforms is to introduce a single-window agency for mining approvals for ease of doing business. “At present, one requires 8-10 no-objection certificates from the departments of forest, transport, revenue and so on. So, we will hold monthly meetings and clearance will be given at once,” he said.

Nirani is also keen to push for the establishment of a School of Mines like the one in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. “This will come up somewhere in central Karnataka or Ballari where mining is more. Ultimately, the plan is to make it a university,” he said. “Right now, mining isn’t happening in a scientific way. On an acre of land, for example, if one lakh tonnes are being extracted, with scientific training, three lakh tonnes can be extracted,” he explained.

The government is also revisiting the modalities of taking up a drone survey to assess mining activities following complaints from the industry. “The drone survey done previously was not scientific... They calculated whatever mining is being done multiplied by volume. But, the yield itself was low,” he said, adding that the penalty amount levied five times the tax payable will be reduced.

Affordable sand

According to Nirani, the government’s new sand policy will be pro-poor.

“All those who carry sand on two-wheelers, three-wheelers or tractors for their own use will be charged a very nominal price,” he said. “This will benefit citizens constructing houses.” And, those using sand for commercial use will have to pay a royalty, he said. “The policy will be out very soon.”