Major initiatives and Achievements of Ministry of Mines:-
POLICY & LEGISLATION
(i) MMDR Act, 1957 – Introduction of Auctions
The MMDR Act, 1957 has been amended by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 w.e.f. January, 2015. Through this amendment, the Central Government has replaced the first-come-first-served / discretionary mechanism for grant of mineral resources by a transparent and competitive auction process. This will also enable the states to obtain an enhanced share of the value of mineral resources. Provisions have been made to ensure certainty of tenure and easy transferability of mineral concession.
In order to implement this Policy relevant Rules like Mineral (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015 and Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 have been framed and notified by the Government. Model Tender Document (MTD) have also been made available to the State Governments to facilitate them to commence auction. Pursuant to this the State Governments have commenced to issue NITs. Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra have issued NITs in November, 2015. Other State Governments like Karnataka and Chhattisgarh are likely to follow suit shortly.
(ii) District Mineral Foundations (DMF)
DMF is to be funded in the following manner:
Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY)
(iii) Accelerating Mineral Exploration Activities in the country
National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET)
These rules have been notified on 29.06.2015. National Mineral Exploration Trust is aims to promote exploration in the country. Lease holders have been mandated to contribute a sum equivalent to 2% of the royalty to NMET.
The government has opened up the arena of exploration to other agencies and has, accordingly, notified five Central PSUs to carry out prospecting operations without obtaining prospecting license. The Central Government vide notification dated 16.2.2015 notified five Central Government Public Sector Undertakings viz. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Limited, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (KIOCL) Limited, and Manganese Ore (India) Limited (MOIL) under second proviso to section 4 (1) of the MMDR Act, 1957.
(iv) Increased revenue to States due to revision in rates of royalty
The Central Government has revised the rates of royalty for major minerals (except for coal, lignite and sand for stowing) on 01.9.2014. State Governments, who receive 100% of the royalty, are benefited through this increase in rates of royalty for major minerals. For some of the States, this revision in rates of royalty may have resulted in an increase of more than 45% in revenue collection through royalty.
(v) Delegation of powers to States through notification of 31 minerals as ‘minor’ minerals
The Central Government has notified 31 minerals as ‘minor’ minerals on 10.2.2015 to delegate entire regulation for these 31 minerals to States. This increased the number of minerals notified as ‘minor’ minerals from 24 to 55. It will empower States to frame their own rules for grant and regulation of these 31 minerals. States are also enabled to prescribe the method for grant of mineral concessions, rates of royalty, contribution to DMF etc. for these minerals.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (GSI)
Acceleration of the National Geochemical Mapping (NGCM) and National Geophysical Mapping (NGPM) Programmes of GSI
In keeping with the priorities of the Central Government for national development, plans for accelerating the geochemical and geophysical mapping of the country have been prepared. NGCM and NGPM programs have a significant import in the exploration for concealed mineral deposits besides other geo-scientific activities. Accordingly, the core areas of the identified Obvious Geological Potential area of the country are envisaged to be covered by NGCM within the next two years, and by NGPM, within the next three years, starting from 2015-16. It is expected that with this, mineral exploration in the country will get a huge fillip.
NATIONAL ALUMINIUM COMPANY LIMITED (NALCO)
Major Highlights of Performance
CSR Schemes
Awards & Accolades
HINDUSTAN COPPER LIMITED (HCL)
Major Achievements
MINERAL EXPLORATION CORPORATION
LIMITED (MECL)
Mineral Resources: Added 6048 million tonnes of resources of various minerals in the National Mineral Inventory (NMI) during the period under review from April, 2014 to September, 2015, It includes:
Name Mineral Resources` States
(Million Tonnes)
Coal 4901 Chattisgarh, Telengana and Madhya Pradesh.
Lignite 392 Tamil Nadu
Limestone 519 Nagaland and Meghalaya.
Copper 11 Rajasthan
Lead-Zinc 0.5 Rajasthan
Gold 3 Jharkhand
Iron Ore 221 Karnataka
Exploratory drilling:
Turn over- profit:
Highest turn over and profit since inception during 2014-15.
Exploration of Iron Ore:
Completed reserves / resources estimation of iron ore for fifteen mines in Bellary district of Karnataka in a record period of 12 months.
Dividend-2014-15:
Paid highest ever dividend of Rs. 11.95 crores to Government of India for the year 2014-15
Swatch Bharat Abhiyan:
Achieved target of construction of 27 toilets in 14 schools in Madhya Pradesh and Telangana states under Swatch Bharat Abhiyan before 31st March, 2015.
Fund utilization:
MECL has utilized fully the plan outlay for promotional exploration on behalf of Ministry of Mines.
In addition, Mineral Exploration Fund (MEF) was also utilized which was unused since last 12 years.
MoU rating-award:
Mou rating for the year 2013-14 is under “EXCELLENT” category.
Rating for 2014-15 is also expected to be under excellent category.
Also rated excellent under Corporate Governance by Govt. of India.
MECL has won “Silver Award” at 4th Annual Greentech CSR Award 2014 in service sector for outstanding achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility on 29th January, 2015 at Kolkata.
AUTONOMOUS BODIES
(i) Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Center (JNARDDC)
Commercialization of R&D process
National Aluminium Co. Ltd, Odisha commercialized the R&D process developed by JNARDDC for “Development of heat treatment process for destruction of toxic cyanide and recovery of valuables from Spent Pot Lining Material (SPL)” with M/s Green Energy Resources, Odisha.
(ii) National Institute of Miners’ Health (NIMH)
Detection of Silicosis among stone mine workers in Rajasthan
(iii) National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM)
R&D achievements:
