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Call to review mineral policy

Special Correspondent

Move to increase the area would bring big industrial houses to the sector and lead to their monopoly

JAIPUR: Rajasthan has called upon the Centre to review certain provisions of the proposed mineral policy, which it says adversely affect the interests of States and amount to an "unwarranted interference'' by the Central Government in the affairs of States.

State Mines and Minerals Minister Laxminarain Dave has taken exception to a proposal for disposal of applications for licences by the Centre on the expiry of term for consideration by the State Government. He said the interference by the Centre in a State matter on the ground of delay went against the spirit of federal structure.

Mr. Dave, accompanied by the Chief Ministers of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa and Home Minister of Karnataka, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi this past week to raise the relevant issues and requested him to review the recommendations of the Huda Committee appointed to finalise the policy. Mr. Dave said the committee's recommendation to increase the area for grant of prospecting licence from 25 sq km to 100 sq km would bring big industrial houses to the sector and lead to their monopoly. "This provision will harm the interests of small players and create unemployment on a massive scale,'' he said.

The Minister felt that the proposal to treat Government enterprises on par with the private companies for lease subsidy was unwarranted and would lead to a tendency to earn profits by mineral exploitation with no regard to the labour welfare.

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