October 07, 2008

Orissa CM writes to PM on mining policy

SNS reported that Mr Naveen Patnaik chief minister of Orissa has shot off yet another letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh highlighting his demand of circulation of the proposed amendments to the Mines & Mineral (Development and regulation) Act 1957,

Mr Patnaik said that the mineral rich states are kept in the dark by the centre about the proposed national mineral policy and amendments to the MMRD Act.

He said that discussions with mineral rich states ought to take place before finalizing the national mineral policy and amending the MMRD Act. He added that by the establishment of mines based industries, the investment will increase, employment opportunities generated within the states and revenue will also be shooting up.

Mr Patnaik further added that the union government should consider the value addition of the products, as most important criterion, for leasing out the mines. He has repeatedly objected to the proposed amendments along with his counterparts of Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

On April 12th 2008, he had written a letter to the PM seeking circulation of the proposed amendments and had also pointed out that in the absence of such documents, concerned officers of the state will not be in a position to present their views at meetings convened by the ministry of mines. He wrote to the PM again informing him of the valid demand of the mineral bearing states were being ignored by the center.