Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 3: The Orissa government Friday said the district mineral foundation would be in operation in the next two months.
“We have prepared the draft district mineral foundation rules and are optimistic of its operation in next two months,” steel and mines minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick said.
The district mineral foundation would fetch at least Rs 2,000 crore, the minister said, adding that the funds could be utilised for the overall development of the tribal population living in mines areas.
Mallick gave all credit to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who continued to demand additional funds for the development of the people in mines area before introduction of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2014, in Parliament.
Though BJD MPs supported the MMDR (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, Mallick said the state government continued to oppose the provisions of extension of lease period of non-captive lease till 2020 and captive lease till 2030 instead of putting them in auction.
Mallick also claimed that Orissa was the first state to take a decision of putting all new mines and mineral reservers seeking second and subsequent renewals in auction while leasing them out.
Earlier the Union steel and mines ministry had proposed to create a district mineral foundation (DMF) in every district affected by mining, which will be funded by an additional levy related to royalty.
