Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state :- (a) whether it is a fact that Government proposes to earmark 100 per cent mining royalty paid by major mineral mining companies to compensate people displaced by such projects; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether Government is also considering to earmark 26 per cent of the profits made by mining companies in favour of people directly affected by the coal/mining projects; (d) whether mining companies had opposed the move; and (e) if so, Government`s reaction thereto?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINES (SHRI DINSHA PATEL) (a) to (e) : The Government is considering legislation which includes proposal for sharing mining benefits with the local population in terms of policy guidelines enunciated in the National Mineral Policy, 2008, which states that a mechanism will be evolved which would actually improve the living standards of the affected population. The legislation has been prepared after taking into account the views of various stakeholders, including mining companies. The draft legislation was referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM) set up by the Government on 14.6.2010. The said GoM held five rounds of detailed discussions and on 7.7.2011 has recommended the draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011 to be placed before the Cabinet. The Bill is proposed to be introduced in Parliament as per prescribed procedure, after obtaining Cabinet approval. The details of provisions as they stand in the draft MMDR Bill at present are by their nature secret, since the draft MMDR Bill is in the process of Cabinet approval.
Will the Minister of COALbe pleased to state :- (a) the details of coal blocks allocated to captive coal mines or otherwise during the last three years;
(b) the details of coal blocks not developed, within the stipulated period, company-wise and State-wise;
(c) whether Government has revoked the licences of coal blocks not developed by the allocated companies within the stipulated period during the last three years; and
(d) the steps/measures taken by Government against the defaulting companies?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL (SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)
(a): A total of 41 coal blocks have been allocated to various private and public companies under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 during the last three years, out of which 3 coal blocks have been de-allocated.
(b) to (d): Development of coal blocks involves a gestation period of 3 to 7 years for reaching the production stage and another two to three years for reaching the optimal production capacity. As per the guidelines, coal production from a captive coal block should commence within 36 months (42 months in case the area falls in forest land) in case of open cast mines and in 48 months (54 months in case the area falls in forest land) in case of underground mine, from the date of allocation. If a coal block is not explored, additional two years are allowed for detailed exploration and three months for preparation of geological report. The companies who have been allocated coal blocks during the last three years are in various stages of obtaining statutory clearances and mining lease, preparing mining plan, acquisition of land, procuring machinery and equipment etc. for both mining as well as end-use project. The responsibility of developing the coal block as per the prescribed guidelines and milestones rests entirely with the allocattee company. In the terms and conditions of the allocation letters, it is categorically mentioned that in the event of willful delay in the development of coal blocks and in setting up of the end use project, the Govt. would take appropriate action to de-allocate the said block. Government periodically monitors and reviews the development of allocated blocks as well as end use plants by the allocattee companies in the review meetings. Wherever delays are noticed, Government issues show cause notices and advisories to such allocattees cautioning them to bring the coal blocks into production as per the guidelines/milestones chart. The Coal Controller’s office also monitors on regular basis the achievement of different milestones. Based on the recommendations made by the Review Committees from time to time, the Central Government has de-allocated 24 coal blocks till date.
(a) the details aof illegal mining identified across the country and comments of the Ministry thereon;
(b) whether the Ministry is monitoring the mining activities of the private players;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the details of the action taken against those who had undertaken mining of areas which are not covered under the lease;
(e) whether the illegal mining has stopped across the country; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI B. K. HANDIQUE)
(a) to (f): The Government has received reports of illegal mining in the country. The details of illegal mining and action taken is given at ANNEXUR-A. The Central Government has taken following steps, which includes inspection of public and private sector mines by special Task Force of Indian Bureau of Mines:-
The State Governments have been advised to set up State Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee (SCEC) to coordinate efforts to control illegal mining by including representatives of Railways, Customs and Port authorities. Separately the State Governments have also been advised to prepare and adopt an Action Plan with specific measures to detect and control illegal mining including, use of remote sensing, control on traffic, gather market intelligence, registration of end-users and setting up of special cells etc.
Mainly because of the proactive stance taken by the Central Government on the issue, the following developments have been reported:
Eighteen States (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) have framed Rules under Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 to control illegal mining.
Twenty one States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) have set up Task Force at State and/or District level to check illegal mining as per the instruction of Central Government.
Thirteen State Governments (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan and West Bengal) have set up a Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee.
Five States (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand) have digitized the total mining area.
State Government of Tamilnadu has digitized 100 cadastral maps.
State Governments of Rajasthan and Orissa have reported to have commenced using satellite imagery. Rajasthan has digitized mining area in GIS environment and superimposed on digital toposheets supplied by Survey of India. State Governments of Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Orissa have reported to have started use of holograms/ bar codes in the transport permits.
During the first half of year 2010, the State Governments detected 35136 cases of illegal mining of minor and major minerals as compared to 41578 cases detected in the full year 2009.
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state :- (a) whether it is a fact that Government proposes to earmark 100 per cent mining royalty paid by major mineral mining companies to compensate people displaced by such projects; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether Government is also considering to earmark 26 per cent of the profits made by mining companies in favour of people directly affected by the coal/mining projects; (d) whether mining companies had opposed the move; and (e) if so, Government`s reaction thereto?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINES (SHRI DINSHA PATEL) (a) to (e) : The Government is considering legislation which includes proposal for sharing mining benefits with the local population in terms of policy guidelines enunciated in the National Mineral Policy, 2008, which states that a mechanism will be evolved which would actually improve the living standards of the affected population. The legislation has been prepared after taking into account the views of various stakeholders, including mining companies. The draft legislation was referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM) set up by the Government on 14.6.2010. The said GoM held five rounds of detailed discussions and on 7.7.2011 has recommended the draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011 to be placed before the Cabinet. The Bill is proposed to be introduced in Parliament as per prescribed procedure, after obtaining Cabinet approval. The details of provisions as they stand in the draft MMDR Bill at present are by their nature secret, since the draft MMDR Bill is in the process of Cabinet approval.
Will the Minister of COALbe pleased to state :- (a) the details of coal blocks allocated to captive coal mines or otherwise during the last three years;
(b) the details of coal blocks not developed, within the stipulated period, company-wise and State-wise;
(c) whether Government has revoked the licences of coal blocks not developed by the allocated companies within the stipulated period during the last three years; and
(d) the steps/measures taken by Government against the defaulting companies?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL (SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)
(a): A total of 41 coal blocks have been allocated to various private and public companies under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 during the last three years, out of which 3 coal blocks have been de-allocated.
(b) to (d): Development of coal blocks involves a gestation period of 3 to 7 years for reaching the production stage and another two to three years for reaching the optimal production capacity. As per the guidelines, coal production from a captive coal block should commence within 36 months (42 months in case the area falls in forest land) in case of open cast mines and in 48 months (54 months in case the area falls in forest land) in case of underground mine, from the date of allocation. If a coal block is not explored, additional two years are allowed for detailed exploration and three months for preparation of geological report. The companies who have been allocated coal blocks during the last three years are in various stages of obtaining statutory clearances and mining lease, preparing mining plan, acquisition of land, procuring machinery and equipment etc. for both mining as well as end-use project. The responsibility of developing the coal block as per the prescribed guidelines and milestones rests entirely with the allocattee company. In the terms and conditions of the allocation letters, it is categorically mentioned that in the event of willful delay in the development of coal blocks and in setting up of the end use project, the Govt. would take appropriate action to de-allocate the said block. Government periodically monitors and reviews the development of allocated blocks as well as end use plants by the allocattee companies in the review meetings. Wherever delays are noticed, Government issues show cause notices and advisories to such allocattees cautioning them to bring the coal blocks into production as per the guidelines/milestones chart. The Coal Controller’s office also monitors on regular basis the achievement of different milestones. Based on the recommendations made by the Review Committees from time to time, the Central Government has de-allocated 24 coal blocks till date.
(a) the details aof illegal mining identified across the country and comments of the Ministry thereon;
(b) whether the Ministry is monitoring the mining activities of the private players;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the details of the action taken against those who had undertaken mining of areas which are not covered under the lease;
(e) whether the illegal mining has stopped across the country; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI B. K. HANDIQUE)
(a) to (f): The Government has received reports of illegal mining in the country. The details of illegal mining and action taken is given at ANNEXUR-A. The Central Government has taken following steps, which includes inspection of public and private sector mines by special Task Force of Indian Bureau of Mines:-
The State Governments have been advised to set up State Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee (SCEC) to coordinate efforts to control illegal mining by including representatives of Railways, Customs and Port authorities. Separately the State Governments have also been advised to prepare and adopt an Action Plan with specific measures to detect and control illegal mining including, use of remote sensing, control on traffic, gather market intelligence, registration of end-users and setting up of special cells etc.
Mainly because of the proactive stance taken by the Central Government on the issue, the following developments have been reported:
Eighteen States (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) have framed Rules under Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 to control illegal mining.
Twenty one States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) have set up Task Force at State and/or District level to check illegal mining as per the instruction of Central Government.
Thirteen State Governments (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan and West Bengal) have set up a Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee.
Five States (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand) have digitized the total mining area.
State Government of Tamilnadu has digitized 100 cadastral maps.
State Governments of Rajasthan and Orissa have reported to have commenced using satellite imagery. Rajasthan has digitized mining area in GIS environment and superimposed on digital toposheets supplied by Survey of India. State Governments of Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Orissa have reported to have started use of holograms/ bar codes in the transport permits.
During the first half of year 2010, the State Governments detected 35136 cases of illegal mining of minor and major minerals as compared to 41578 cases detected in the full year 2009.
