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The Mining Engineers' Association of India today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to amend the mining laws in the wake of the Supreme Court's recent judgement in the Goa case.
The entire mining sector in the country will come to a grinding halt If the anomalies pointed out by the apex court were not addressed by way of amending the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) immediately, said the association while citing a fresh ban imposed on mining in Odisha following the Goa judgement.
According to the association, the Supreme Court judgement brought out a serious anomaly in the Mineral Concession Rules and the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, which make operations of several mines in India questionable and against the spirit of the judgement as on date.
Association president A Bagchhi said the mining sector faced a threat of closure if the Centre did not act quickly in this regard.
“We appeal to the Prime Minister to kickstart the mining activity in the country by amending the MMDR Act immediately,” he said. Mining alone will bring inclusive growth and the multiplier effect in the economy, he said.
