Mr A Sai Prathap minister of state in the Ministry of Steel said that a total of 12 mines for various minerals have been leased to NMDC Limited in the country. Two mining leases viz. Panna main mining lease and Panna supplementary mining lease for diamonds are due for renewal. NMDC has applied for renewal of these two mining leases. However, the renewal of mining leases is awaited.

Mr Prathap said recently in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that besides, NMDC has applied to many state governments viz, the Government of Chhattisgarh, the Government of Karnataka, the Government of Jharkhand, the Government of Orissa, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir for grant of many new mining leases for minerals including iron ore, manganese, dolomite, gold, bauxite, coal, diamond and sapphire. Most of these applications are pending with the concerned State Governments, while some are sub judice. One of the applications is pending with Ministry of Mines, Government of India for grant of prior approval on behalf of the Central Government.

He said that NMDC is pursuing the matter with the concerned State Governments as well as Ministry of Mines. As and when required, Ministry of Steel also takes up matter with the concerned authorities.