Raje calls for consensus on New National Mineral Policy

Jaipur, July 12 (UNI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider the draft of New National Mineral Policy and evolve a consensus of the states before the same was considered by the Union Cabinet.

The draft of the New National Mineral Policy has been prepared on the basis of recommendations of the high level committee under the chairmanship of Mr Anwarul Hoda, member, Planning Commission.

The Commitee has proposed some amendments in the new Mines and Mineral(Development and Regulation) Law of 1957.

The Chief Minister while drawing the attention of Dr Singh to her letter dated September 1, last year and a joint memorandum submitted to him by five states on December 30, 2006 on the New National Mineral Policy said the issues relating to the rights of states directly associated with the management of mineral wealth should be given a serious consideration.

She said some recomendations of the Hoda committee shouls not be considered in the best interests of the state government. The committee had recommended that in case of delay in disposing of any application at the level of state government, within the stipulated time , the jurisdiction/power to decide such applications would be transferred from the state to central governemnts. The state governments do not consider this in their own interests.

Similarly the state governments also do not agree with the recomendation of the committee that area under the prospecting licenses should be increased to 100 sq kms from the present limit of 25 sq kms.

Likewise, the state governments does not approve of increasing the area under the mining lease and large area to prospecting licensees. The state governments are of the view that effecting revision of such higher scale would create a tendency of holding large mineral bearing areas idle which would not be in the best interests of mineral development.

The state governments are also in disagreement with the recommendations of the committee that public undertakings of central and state governments should be treated at par with private sector companies while granting concessions.

Ms Raje complained that contrary to the categorical assurance by the Prime Minister, the draft policy had been approved by the Group of Ministers without holding any meeting of the Chief Ministers and same was considered for Cabinet approval.

UNI