)
The Centre is considering a proposal to allow all mining engineers and geologists to prepare the mining plans of companies.
At present, only an engineer with five years of experience in a supervisory capacity in the field of mining and with a Recognized Qualified Person (RQP) certificate from a state government is permitted to prepare a mining plan. The mining plan is then submitted to the state government for approval before a company starts work on the ground.
“For bringing greater opportunity to all qualified mining engineers and geologists and to achieve the objective of ‘Make in India’, it is now proposed to abolish the system of preparation of mining plan by RQP,” the Centre said in a proposal sent to state governments.
The qualified persons after getting recognition from any of the regional offices of Indian Bureau of Mines can prepare the mining plan of any lease falling under the jurisdiction of any region..
ALSO READ: Govt to allow commercial mining to central, state PSUs
However, the mining plan / scheme of mining has to be submitted to the Regional Controller of Mines under whose jurisdiction the lease area falls.
The procedure for preparation and submission of the mining plan in accordance with the specified formats and guidelines is disclosed at the time of grant of recognition as qualified person.
The Indian Bureau of Mines has granted recognition to 3,207 qualified persons till May 2015.
Instead of getting an RQP certificate, the Centre has proposed a self-certification from the miner who is hiring the engineer and wants to get its mining plan approved.
During self-certification, the miner will have to attest that he/she is not concealing any information which may affect the implementation of the plan at a later stage.
The Centre has proposed that ‘mining engineer/geologist — who will prepare the mining plan for the lessee/owner — will also be responsible for implementation of the proposals as furnished in the plan.
ALSO READ: Govt mulls roping in states for commercial mining of coal
The lessee/owner of that mine will have to provide all facilities to the ‘mining engineer/geologist’ for the implementation procedure. The mining plan is usually prepared and approved by an independent RQP, while it is implemented by owner of that mine through his engineers/geologists.
The present system of RQP is like a short-term contract system between the lessee/applicant and the RQP in which the element of the ownership or fair responsibility is missing, said the proposal.
“However, there will be a greater sense of responsibility in all cases wherein the preparation and implementation is done by the same person appointed by the lessee for the purpose of systematic development of his/her mine.”
