No change in Centre's role in proposed Mineral policy: Huda

New Delhi, June 30 (UNI) Mr Anwar Huda, who chaired the Committee on Mineral Policy whose report was released here today, assured that there would be no change in the role of the Centre in approving recommendation of states regarding value-addition in the mining sector.

"The role of the Centre will not diminish," Mr Huda, whose committee has recommended sweeping changes in the national mineral policy, told newspersons here.

The committee has among others suggested co-existence between captive mines and stand-alone mines, setting up of a coordination-cum-empowered committee in the Centre and the states and establishing an independent tribunal to hear appeals against orders of the state government among others.

The proposed policy which gives the general framework within which states can function, allows them to decide their preference among the multiple applications in giving out mining leases and even prospecting licenses. States can express preference of the applicant who offers to set up an industry in the state based on the mineral excavated.

However, he clarified, where no applicant has made a proposal for setting up an industry, decision should not be held up in the expectation that in future such an applicant might turn up.

Mr Huda said the Centre will as before approve recommendations sent by states. Where multiple applicants were involved, the criteria would be value addition over and above other applicants.

The state can favour applicants who spell out clearly the ratio of investment and willingness to invest in their respective state.

Mineral-rich states will now have a clear set of guidelines while approving mining licences.

Only if the state government was deviating from these guidelines then the Centre would intervene, the Chairman added.

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