Centre, MP plan steel, power plants in state

The Centre and the Madhya Pradesh government today discussed the possiblity of PSUs setting up steel and power plants as well as developing mines in the state.
The proposals were discussed at a meeting between Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The proposals from various Public Sector firms for the new mining leases and mineral prospecting leases as well as for setting up of steel plants and power plants were also part of the agenda and were discussed threadbare, an official statement said.
Tomar and Singh also discussed various issues related to mining raised during the Global Investor Summit held in the state in October last year, it said.

Tomar was in the state capital to address a press conference on achievements of the Modi-led NDA government in the last one year.
"He (Tomar) also mentioned that he met the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh to discuss various pending issues in mining and compliance of issues raised during the Global Investor Summit held in Indore," the statement added.

He mentioned that measures were taken for preventing illegal mining and fines were also prescribed for illegal mining activities, it added.
"The spectre of illegal mining threatened the growth of this sector in the past. In the latest MMDR Amendment Act 2015, we have dealt with illegal mining in all seriousness, by raising the penalty from Rs 25,000 to Rs 5 lakh per hectare, and imprisonment from two years to five years," Tomar said.

The National Mineral Exploration Trust was set up and the mineral exploration works have been fastened in the country. Government is making every effort for environment protection in mining areas and the royalty on mines has been increased to benefit all the states in India, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, a statement by the state government said: "Madhya Pradesh will be first state in the country to auction mining blocks under new Central mining policy."
Tomar said Madhya Pradesh will become an example for other states by constituting mining foundations in all districts of the state for development of mining areas, it added.

So far, geo-chemical survey of 23,000 km and geophysical survey 19,000 km has been done in mining areas in the state. Work of area-wise exploration will be completed by year 2017, the statement said.
It added: "The meeting was informed that 2 limestone blocks have been selected recently in Satna district, which may be auctioned during next 3 months.
"Similarly, 10 blocks of limestone, 6 of iron ore and 2 blocks of bauxite have been selected, which may be auctioned after geo-reference. Revenue from e-auction of sand has increased 10 times.