Centre to address industry's private land concern

The National Conclave on Mines and Minerals also addressed the pain points impeding industrial growth

The issue of land for industrial use was the focal point of discussion at the two-day National Conclave on Mines and Minerals that concluded here on Tuesday. The meet also addressed the pain points impeding industrial growth.

Industry representatives pointed out that once exploration was completed and the mine mapped, the cost of private land would go up fourfold, further dissuading potential investors.

They suggested the government notify the area as ‘mine land’ after exploration and acquire it from the private landowner. The industry could purchase the land from the government, they averred.

“The ministry would take up the issue with the state governments,” Mines Secretary Balvinder Singh said. After discussion with the state authorities, a solution to address the problems faced by the industry in getting private land would be worked out, he added.

The reported failure of auctioning mines under the new Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, in a few states were also discussed at the conclave. “The auction process did not garner positive response (in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan) as the state governments in question did not discuss with the industry before initiating the process,” Singh said.

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While answering the concerns of Karnataka industrialists over iron ore price and the state government’s reluctance to allow small industries’ consortium to participate in the auction, Singh said the ministry would hold high-level talks with officials of the ministries concerned to look into the same.