Dinsha Patel to work for cleansing the mining sector

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Dinsha Patel, who was todayelevated as Minister of State with Independent charge in theMinistry of Mines, said he would work to end corrupt practicesin the mining sector.

Weeding the evil out of the system is what the Ministrywould look for, Patel, who earlier held the charge of MoSMicro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) told PTI over phonefrom his constituency Kheda in Gujarat.

"Cleansing the system and bringing the corrupt practicesto an end will be my priority in the new Ministry,"said Patel,the fifth term Member of Parliament, who earlier had also beenfive times MLA in Gujarat.

"The other challenge before me would be to increase therevenue to the government," he added.

Describing the new role as challenging, Patel said theMinistry is new for him but he was there in politics for along time and had been assigned new portfolios like Petroleumand MSME earlier as well.

The biggest challenge Patel would face is to containillegal mining as there are not enough legal provisions forCentral intervention in states.

The magnitude of the problem is so great that as many as42,000 cases of violation were detected in 11-mineral bearingstates last year.

Also, the new mining bill which proposes 26 per centprofit sharing clause by miners with project affected peoplehas created a furore among the industry which is opposing it.