Contribute funds to PMKKKY, Tomar tells states

Yash Goyal

Jaipur, May 27

Claiming that average mineral growth was rising in the country, Union Minister of Mines and Steel NS Tomar today called upon all states that they should contribute to Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) from the funds to be generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining-related operations.

The state should deposit 30% of royalty to DMFs, which would ultimately connect with PMKKKY, Tomar said after the first session of the national meet of mining ministers of around 25 states here.

Due to amendment in new mines and mineral policy, an average production growth of all minerals is at about 9% and as compared to last FY, iron ore registered a growth of 20%, he said.

So far, notification for auction of 47 coal blocks have been released in the country and Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand have auctioned six mines and earned around Rs 19,946 crore, he said.

The Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act (MMDR), which is amended by the Centre, for maintaining transparency in auction and strengthening the mining policy, should be implemented in the states, he said, adding many states have done it successfully.

For exploration, the minister said, Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) has been appointed as a nodal agency for carrying out exploration under National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET). More than 60 delegates attended the conference.