Open up mining sector for more FDI, high-technology: Rane

Panaji, July 15: Stressing the need for opening up the mining sector to attract adequate foreign direct investment, Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane has urged the bureaucrats to change their mind set in removing blinkers while clearing licences with a practical outlook.

''Liberalise and decentralise the mining sector for registering quantum growth while adhearing to principles of all scientific mining. The bureaucrats should also remove blinkers and change their mindset in tune with the changing demands through a practical approach,'' Mr Rane said.

Inaugurating the one-day National Seminar on 'Scientific and Sustainable Mining' under the aegis of the Indian Bureau of Mines in presence of Union Minister of State for Mines Dr T Subbarami Reddy here today, Mr Rane called for ''striking balance between miners and the people around'' so that ecological issues did not arise.

At the sametime, the miners had to execute their social responsibility to win over the community in the mining areas besides voluntary adhearance to the mining regulations.

The mining sector, he said, would witness rapid growth only through huge foreign direct investment to exploit the vast mineral wealth of India. At the sametime, it requires a lot of reforms in the executive to give clearances in the globalised economy to boost the exchequer.

Speaking on the occasion, Goa's Mining Minister Digambar Kamat said Goa was well placed in maintaining ecology compared to bigger states with the industry taking care of the environment and ecology besides the communities through Goa Mineral Foundation.

He had also pleaded for amending related laws so that the mining activities be picked up without impending the ecology. Though mining industry continued to be the backone of Goan economy, it had been passing through 'not a good phase' because of stringent laws that were impeding the activities, he added. ''There should not be any compromise in striking a right balance between development and environment, particularly in the mining sector,'' Mr Kamat added.

Secretary, Union Ministry of Mining A K D Jadhav said, ''The mining industry which had contributed Rs 75,121 crore to the Indian economy in 2005-06 fiscal comprising 2.8 per cent of the GDP, shall be well taken care of under the proposed new mining policy.

India, he said, had to enhance its production so that it exported to earn more wealth and this required new technologies and mining equippment which could be achieved by upgrading technologies and strengthening regulatory mechanism for more capital.

Reiteriating the need for sustainable and scientific mining operations, Mr Yadhav said it was now mandatory for all miners to submit their project plans for rehabilitation of the closed/abandoned mines and the affected community, for approval by the Indian Bureau of Mines.

Director General of IBM C P Ambesh, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries R K Sharma, Secretary, Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association S Sridhar besides the Goa mining secretary Raajiv Yedhuvanshi were present on the occasion.

Representatives from Sesa Goa Ltd, V M Salgaocar&Bros Ltd, Essel Mining Industries, NALCO, Bhilai Steel Plant, NMDC, Gujarat Ambuja Cements and Manganese Ore Limited presented their respective case studies in their contribution for scientific and sustainable mining in the country.

UNI