Lok Sabha Question No. 5419 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-06
Subject: National Mineral Policy, 2008
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: LAXMAN GILUWA, RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5419 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  APRIL, 2017

## NATIONAL MINERAL POLICY, 2008

## †5419. SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA: SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether National Mineral Policy, 2008 is promoting illegal mining in place of carrying out optimum utilisation of resources and exploiting the tribal people;
- (b) if so, the efforts made to make amendments in the said policy; and
- (c) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a):  No Madam. The National Mineral Policy, 2008 promotes optimum utilization of resources and at the same time has provisions for curbing illegal mining and prevention of exploitation of tribal people. The salient features in this regard are as follows:

- (i) Minerals being a valuable resource, extraction have to be optimized through scientific methods, beneficiation and economic utilization with Zero waste mining as the goal.
- (ii) The regulatory environment will be made more conducive to investment. Transparency in allocations of concession will be assured with security of tenure to a concessionaire.
- (iii) A framework of sustainable development will be designed to ensure that mining can take place along with restoration.
- (iv) Mining  shall  not  be  undertaken  in  ecologically  fragile  or  biologically  rich  areas. Mining in forest areas will be accompanied by time-bound reclamation.
- (v) Special  care  will  be  taken  to  protect  the  interest  of  host  and  indigenous  (tribal) populations on the basis of international best practice. Project affected persons will be protected  through  comprehensive  relief  and  rehabilitation  packages  in  line  with  the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Policy.
- (vi) Mining  sectoral  value  addition  through  beneficiation,  calibration,  blending,  sizing, concentration, pelletisation, purification and customization will be encouraged.
- (vii) State  agencies involved  in  mineral  sector  development  and  regulation  will  be encouraged to modernize in the areas of prospecting as well as regulation.
- (viii) States will be assisted to overcome the problem of illegal mining through operational and financial linkages with the Indian Bureau of Mines.
- (ix) To  exploit  the  country's  geological  potential  it  will  be  ensured  that  Regional  and Detailed Explorations are carried out systematically in the entire geologically conducive mineral bearing area of the country using state- of-the-art techniques.
- (x) To promote the use of state of the  art  exploration techniques, scientific  mining and optimal use of minerals, special impetus will be given to research and development and to the establishment of appropriate educational and training facilities for human resource development to meet the manpower requirements of the mineral industry.
- (xi) The  revenues  from  minerals  will  be  rationalised  to  ensure  that  the  mineral  bearing states get a fair share of the value of the minerals extracted from their grounds.

The Government is effectively implementing the National Mineral Policy, 2008 to achieve its objectives for optimum utilization of resources, curbing illegal mining and to prevent exploitation of tribal people.

(b) and (c): Does not arise in view of the reply given to (a) above.

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