Proposal sent to PCI for restoration of abandoned mines: IBM

Panaji, July 14 (UNI) The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has submitted a proposal to the Planning Commission of India (PCI) for clearing a multi-billion rupee proposal to rehabilitate 105 of the 297 abandoned and degraded mines in the country.

On the eve of a national seminar on 'Scientific and Sustainable Mining', IBM's Controller General, Nagpur C P Ambesh told mediapersons here today that the project would be undertaken in collaboration with the the Tata Environment Research Institute (TERI).

Spread over 20 years, the initial estimated cost of the project for the first five years is Rs 49 crores, at Rs 25,000 per hectare of degraded land. Three-fourth of the expenditure would be borne by the Centre and the rest by respective state governments.

Stating that the amended mining policy envisaged mandatory submission and degraded land restoration plan by the agency before obtaining the lease for approval, Mr Ambesh said the related act is strict in that, apart from levying fine and imprisonment, the authorities could suspend the lease and close down the mining operations.

The IBM took this extreme step recently in respect of violations found during cross-regional raids at five mines in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, he said.

The policy envisages ''zero-waste mining with lesser impact on environment.'' The degradation is more evident in case of illegal mining across the country, he said.

Federation of Indian Mineral Industry Secretary General R K Sharma ruled out the suggestion of Left parties for stopping export of iron ore fines, with opening of sinter and pilletisation units becoming unremunerative and the products not in demand in India.

An economically viable three million capacity pilletisation plant would cost a whopping Rs 1,000 crore investment, whereas consumption of pillets is not notable in the country and, hence, the industry is exporting 90 per cent of the fines.

The composition of the Indian iron ore is 61 per cent fines on an average. It is 80 per cent in Goa, 74 per cent in Karnataka and 50 per cent on the East coast and its conversion to sinters or pillets is totally unviable.

Moreover, the international market for pillets is totally fluctuating. The prices have crashed by four per cent for pillets whereas that of lumps and fines have gone up by 19 per cent in the market, Mr Sharma added.

He also pleaded against total captive mining of minerals in the country, as long as it did not pass on the benefits to the consuming public.

The concept is not applicable in case of steel industry which requires a specific grade of iron ore, which is not guaranteed in captive mines, Mr Sharma added.

UNI BM GK DKS VV1538