Lok Sabha Question No. 4287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-11
Subject: Role of States in NMEP
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4287 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 th  AUGUST, 2016

## ROLE OF STATES IN NMEP

## 4287.  SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether, the Government has approved the National Mineral Exploration Policy in a bid to attract private sector investment into exploration of non-fuel and non-coal minerals;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the role of States in this new policy; and
- (d) the extent to which the new policy is different from the earlier policy?

## A  N   S  W  E  R

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

- (a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Madam. The National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP) has been approved by  the  Government  and  is  available  at  the  website  of  Ministry  of  Mines (http://mines.nic.in/writereaddata/Content/NMEP.pdf). The policy, inter-alia, proposes:
1.  The Government will create baseline geoscientific data as a public good and will make available pre-competitive baseline geoscientific data of the highest standards free of charge in public domain.
2.  The Government will carry out aero-geophysical survey of the country in a mission  mode  initially  in  the  potential  areas  of  around  8  lakh  sq.  kms  and subsequently in the rest of the areas.
3.  A National Geoscientific Data Repository (NGDR) will be set up to collate all baseline  and  mineral  exploration  information  generated  by  various  central and  state  government  agencies  and  also  mineral  concession  holders  and maintain these on a geospatial database.
4.  The  Government  will  establish  a  National  Centre  for  Mineral  Targeting (NCMT)  in  collaboration  with  geoscientific  organisations,  academia  and industry to target concealed and deep-seated mineral deposits.
5.  The Government will carry out auctioning of identified exploration blocks for exploration by private sector on a suitable revenue sharing basis in case their exploration leads to auctionable resources. In case no auctionable resources are discovered, exploration expenditure will be reimbursed on normative cost basis.
- (c):    State  Governments have a key role to play in building up a steady stream of auctionable mineral prospects. They are required to take mineral exploration reports prepared by Geological Survey of India or other agencies and build on them to carry out G3 or G2 levels of exploration. Further, States need to build up the exploration

capabilities  of  their  organisations.  The  exploration  blocks  will  be  allotted  to  private explorers through open competitive bidding/auction process by the State Government with active support from Ministry of Mines and its central agencies.

(d):    An  exclusive  National  Mineral  Exploration  Policy  has  been  formulated  for  the first  time  by  the  Central  Government.  The  policy  facilitates  greater  role  of  private sector  in  mineral  exploration.  It  proposes,  inter-alia,  to  carry  out  aerogeophysical mapping of the country, make available baseline data free of cost as public good, collate  and  share  data  of  various  exploration  agencies,  and  provide  a  structured framework for targeting deep-seated and concealed mineral deposits.

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