Centre, states to discuss mine auction, DMF at CCEC meet tom

The Centre will take up with states the status of mining auction and extension on mining lease, the progress of the District Mining Fund (DMF) at the CCEC meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
The Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee CCEC, which is chaired by the Mining Secretary, will also discuss ways to encourage exploration of minerals as well as the status of framing the rules for minor minerals.
CCEC will tomorrow take up readiness for mineral auction by states as well as the progress in setting up DMF. Besides, the status of extension of existing leases under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, will also be taken up, Mines Ministry said.

The government also wants to encourage mineral exploration in the country and will ask the states their views on fostering exploration development by incentivising and facilitating exploration, with in the existing legal framework, it added.
Mines Ministry had prepared draft guidelines for mining of minor minerals that was circulated to states and the CCEC will also take up its status, a Ministry official said.
Issues such as environmental clearance for mining minor minerals like sand, brick earth, lack of which is impacting infrastructure activities.

Also, auctioning of minor minerals, preparation of mining plan, among others, will be discussed in the meeting, the official added.

Another issues that will be taken up is the Sustainable Development Framework (SDF) for the sector.
"In a review of the National Mineral Policy, a high level committee had suggested the development of a SDF based on the Indian context. The SDF is to include principles, reporting initiatives and good practice guidelines," he said.
Mines Ministry formulated a basic SDF Document and as a process of roll-out the Ministry would undertake a pilot implementation of the SDF, for which states have been asked to identify the leases in their areas, the official said.