Other States - Orissa   

Five mineral-rich States seek better deal

Photo: Kamal Narang

Chalking out strategy: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flanked by Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh (left) and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan just before a meeting on export of nationally important mineral resources in Delhi on Saturday. —

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa, along with four other mineral-rich States, on Saturday jointly submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking a better deal with regard to the new mineral policy being formulated by the Centre.The memorandum was finalised at a meeting in New Delhi during the day. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and a Cabinet Minister of Jharkhand signed the memorandum before the same was submitted to the Prime Minister.

The National Mineral Policy, 2008, which was tabled a few days back in the Rajya Sabha, had not considered many of the viewpoints of the mineral rich States, who have earlier submitted three joint memoranda in December 2006, August 2007 and December 2007, they said in their representation.

The five States also reiterated their demand for value addition of minerals within the State to attract investments that will lead to employment and revenue generation as against standalone mining stated in the mineral policy.

They further demanded that the principle of value addition within the State be recognised as a major consideration for grant of mineral concessions.

“This is the only way the mineral based States can attract entrepreneurs to set up industries and generate employment and revenue within their States, which is a crucial step towards redressing regional imbalance,” they submitted.

The states reiterated that the royalty on various minerals should be ad valorem and the export duty on minerals should be passed on entirely to the respective State.

The States also urged the Centre to continue reservation for the State mining PSUs as recommended by the Hoda Committee.

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