Timely approval of mining plan

New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) The Ministry of Mines has decided to amend the existing rules so that applications for mining plan/scheme found to be in order at pre-submission stage would be disposed of by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) within 90 days.

In a review meeting of IBM activities at Mines Ministry, it was felt that timely approval of mining plans is a crucial feature of ground mineral extraction and IBM should disseminate the amendment among all prospective mine owners applying for approval.

The Ministry has directed IBM to update its web site and to make it more interactive. IBM would prepare an inventory of abandoned/orphaned mining sites and prepare rehabilitation plans.

Detailed guidelines for project implementation with prescribed unit cost would be prepared and mining companies would have to bear the cost of rehabilitation and regeneration. IBM has already prepared project proposals for 106 mine sites in consultation with Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI).

IBM proposed to create a legal cell to expedite clearance of pending cases to give more teeth to its regulatory activities.

During the meeting the Controller General, IBM pointed out that during 2003-04, 500 cases were filed involving 61 mines, out of which 300-350 cases are still pending. Creation of a legal cell in IBM is in consideration of the Ministry.

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