More than Rs 1,400 crore has been collected through the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), which will be utilised by the states for the development of places and people affected by mining.
Mines Ministry is monitoring the implementation of the DMF and the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY).
DMF is to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations, which is to be funded out of the contribution received from holders of mining lease, Mines Ministry said in a statement.
"As per the latest information available, 10 states have framed the rules for DMF and constituted DMFs and a total of Rs 1,427.2 crore has been collected through contributions to DMF across the states," Mines Minister Piyush Goyal said at the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee held yesterday.
On project implementation, Chhattisgarh took the lead and has launched five projects in Dantewada district, funded through the DMF under the PMKKKY, the minister said.
Informing the members about the auction progress, Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar said seven blocks of major minerals have been successfully auctioned through which states will get over Rs 13,138 crore as revenue over the lease period.
"Thirty-seven blocks are under process of auction and the notices inviting tenders (NITs) have been issued. By the year end, NITs for minimum 25 more blocks are expected to be issued," he added.
He added that Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2016 and the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (OAMDR) (Amendment) are under active consideration.
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