Cabinet approves Amendment of the Second Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 for specifying rate of royalty in respect of certain minerals.
The Ministry had proposed reasonable rates of Royalty in order to encourage better participation in auction, which has been approved by the Union Cabinet. These rates have been fixed after extensive consultations with the State Governments and various Ministries/ Department of the Central Government.
Central Government lays down conditions for employing contract labourers in mines
The Central Government has allowed various coal companies under the aiges of Coal India Ltd., namely, the Eastern Coalfields Ltd, Sanctoria; Central Coalfields Limited, Ranchi; Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, Dhanbad; Western Coalfields Ltd, Nagpur; South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Bilaspur; Northern Coalfields Limited,
Singhaurali; and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Sambalpur, to employ contract labourers subject to conditions.
Ministry of Mines notifies amendments to Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015 and the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 to facilitate identification of mineral blocks for auction for grant of Composite Licence.
The Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 were amended, inter alia, to prescribe bid security, performance security and other eligibility conditions to enable auction of such blocks for composite licence. Geological Survey of India (GSI) has also made freely available the database of baseline geoscience data for geological potential area in OCBIS portal for assistance of prospective bidders and other stakeholders.
Assam Minor Mineral concession (Amendment) Rules, 2021
Urban local bodies shall collect Royalty in 4 (four) equal installments. The first installment shall be collected at the time of granting of building construction permission, the next two installments during construction and the final installment on completion of the” construction works. The Royalties as collected by the Urban Local Bodies shall be deposited the Head of Account or Bank account as shall be notified by the Government.
Ministry of Mines notifies the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Mineral) Concession (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2021.
With this amendment, the Government has paved the way for releasing of additional minerals in the market by greater utilization of mining capacities of captive mines.
Mineral (Auction) Third Amendment Rules, 2021
The amendment provides that the State Government shall charge simple interest at the rate of Twelve percent per annum (instead of previous rate of twenty four percent) on any payment due to State Government under these rules the payment of which is delayed beyond the due date thereof.
Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Mineral) Concession (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2021.
The amended penalty for contravention of these rules is imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to rupees five lakhs, or with both, and in the case of a continuing contravention, with additional fine which may extend to rupees fifty thousand for every day during which such contravention continues after conviction for the first such contravention.
Guidelines for granting Environmental Clearance (EC) for up to 20% expansion of Iron, Manganese, Bauxite and Limestone mining projects
The expansion of Iron, Manganese, Bauxite and Limestone mining projects (with 5-star ratings) upto 20% of the production capacity for which EC had been granted on the basis of public hearing, shall be allowed to undertake public consultation instead of Public Hearing at site while granting EC.
Madhya Pradesh Sand (Mining, Transportation, Storage and Trading) Rules, 2019
The amendment provides that the approval of state government in Form-V within 15 days from date of submission of undertaking for sand group contract agreement.
Government of A.P Revises rates of consideration to be paid for obtaining lease over mineral quarries
The Consideration depends on seigniorage fee. The seigniorage fee and other fees shall be paid in addition to consideration to obtain lease.
