Lok Sabha Question No. 323 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: District Mineral Foundation Trust Fund
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Rajkumar Roat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 323

ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## DISTRICT MINERAL FOUNDATION TRUST FUND

†323 SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is mandatory to take permission from Gram Sabha for establishing mining companies in scheduled areas under the PESA Act;
- (b)  whether  the  local  tribal  individuals  are  given  priority  while  establishing  mining companies in scheduled areas under the PESA Act and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  number  of  mines  being  operated  in  Dungarpur-Banswada  at  present  and  the amount deposited into District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) fund by these mines since 2015 till date; and
- (d) the details of work done in Dungarpur-Banswada utilizing DMFT fund during the said duration, district-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a)  &  (b):  As  per  the  provisions  of  Section  4(i)  of  the  Panchayats  (Extension  to  the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, which is administered by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level shall be consulted before making the acquisition of land in the Scheduled Areas for development projects and before resettling or rehabilitating persons affected by such projects in the Scheduled Areas.

Further, as per Section 4(k) of the said Act, the recommendations of the Gram Sabha or the  Panchayats  at  the  appropriate  level  shall  be  made  mandatory  prior  to  grant  of prospecting licence or mining lease for minor minerals in the Scheduled Areas.

The Section 4(l) of the said Act stipulates that the prior recommendation of the Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level shall be made mandatory for grant of concession for the exploitation of minor minerals by auction.

The mineral concessions are granted by the respective State Governments in accordance with the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Before execution of a mining lease under the provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957, the project proponent is required to obtain the requisite statutory clearances including Gram Sabha Consent, wherever applicable.

As  per  the  provisions  of  Rule  12(1)(l)  of  the  Minerals  (Other  than  Atomic  and  Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016, the lease holders shall, in the matter of employment, give preference to the tribals and to the persons who become displaced because of the taking up of mining operations.

(c): As per the information available in the Ministry of Mines, the number of mines being operated in Dungarpur-Banswada districts and the amount deposited into District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund by these mines since 2015 is given below:

|   S No | District   |   Number of mines operated (including minerals) | being minor Amount deposited under DMFTs since 2015   |
|--------|------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Dungarpur  |                                             174 | Rs. 16.35 Crores                                      |
|      2 | Banswada   |                                             159 | Rs. 52.72 Crores                                      |

(d): The details of the work done in Dungarpur-Banswada utilizing DMFT fund during the said duration, district-wise is given below:

|   S No | District   |   Number of projects done | Sanctioned Amount   |
|--------|------------|---------------------------|---------------------|
|      1 | Dungarpur  |                        45 | Rs. 6.54 Crores     |
|      2 | Banswada   |                       173 | Rs. 37.27 Crores    |

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