Mines Ministry gets higher budgetary allocation of Rs 439 crores

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) Finance Minister P Chidambaram in his budget proposal for 2008-09 made a higher financial provision of Rs 439 crore for the Ministry of Mines as against the revised estimate for the previous year at Rs 426.59 crore.

According to the budget document, in the Mines Ministry's allocation the highest amount was provided to Non-Ferrous Mining and Metallurgical Industries which accounted for Rs 410.98 crores as against the revised estimates of the previous year at Rs 402.92 crores The allocation would be utilised towards secretarial expenditure of the Mines Ministry. The provision is for Geological Survey of India for mapping and regional mineral assessment of the country including off-shore areas and covers the requirements of remote sensing through satellite and airborne surveys.

Grants to Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited is to cover the requirements of the Indian Bureau of Mines for inspection and study of mines and research on the benefication of low grade ores and minerals and special mining problems to promote conservation and scientific development of mineral resources.

UNI/BKS LS RN1955