Centre hopes states will get huge revenue in mining sector

New Delhi [India], June 13 (ANI): With the transparent auction of 24 mineral blocks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government hopes that States will get estimated revenue of over Rs. 1 lakh crore over the lease period of the mines.

Union Ministry for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines has stated in its report of last three years of achievement.

Through a combination of sound policy and technology, the Government has embarked on a plan to bring transparency to the mining sector and optimise utilisation of natural resources, the report says.

The government has introduced the National Mineral Exploration Policy 2016, which aims to accelerate exploration through National Aero-Geophysical Mapping Project, also which will acquire data on 27 lakh line kms of aero-geophysical data by 2019, versus 7 lakh line kms in the last 30 years.

According to report, amending the legislative framework for allotment of offshore blocks will kick start offshore mining activity.

To eradicate corruption in the allotment of Coal blocks, Modi government has introduced a complete transparent system of auctioning.

The Mining industry in India contributes significantly to the economy of India. The GDP contribution of the mining industry varies from 2.2% to 2.5% only but going by the GDP of the total industrial sector it contributes around 10% to 11%. Even mining done on small scale contributes 6% to the entire cost of mineral production.

Furthermore, Modi government has also started using space technology, the Mining Surveillance System (MSS) acts as an eye in the sky to check illegal mining.

To ensure that people affected by mining gets benefit from this activity, the government has started Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), which has already covered 11 out of 12 mineral-rich states. The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) under PMKKKY has collected about Rs. 7,150 crores from mining in 2016-17, which will be used for education, healthcare and welfare measures specifically for mining affected people and areas.

Government is also operating under the highest standards of transparency and accountability, with 'consumer is king', at the heart of all efforts.

As a part of that they have worked on the launch of various apps to track the functioning of various departments and schemes. Some of the apps launched in the past year include URJA to track electricity situation in urban areas and the progress of the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), TARANG to track transmission projects and URJA MITRA for power cut information.(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI