The much-delayed Mining Bill, which carries the provision of auctioning of mining leases, is likely to be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament with a strong likelihood emerging that the Government may retain the provision, as Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar strongly favours greater transparency and simplification in procedures of allotting leases.
Sources privy to the development said that Tomar's consultations with all the mineral-rich states on the Mining Bill are almost over, and quite a few changes have been suggested by them in the legislations. A panel may be set up by the Mines Ministry to consider these suggestions before the Bill is moved to Parliament.
They added that discussions within Mines Ministry on the changes suggested by the states are likely to be begin by end of this month so that preparations for introduction of the Bill in the Winter session (tentatively scheduled for third week of November) can be in sync.
The Mines Minister has discussed the issuance of mining leases within the ministry. He was learnt to have sought opinion of his officials on giving out leases through competitive bidding, however, he was advised against it, and consequently the ministry had planned to move a cabinet note seeking views of stakeholders on whether this specific provision of the Mining Bill - technically known as Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, can be reworked.
The consultations with mineral-rich states like Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, had been initiated soon after this by Tomar.
The consultative process was begun after the minister was apparently told that issuing mining leases through competitive bidding is something which is not prevalent globally, as without having an idea about the exact quantity of minerals held by a mine, it is virtually impossible to lease it out through bidding.
The Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Amendment Bill 2011, which was introduced in Parliament by the UPA Government, could not be taken forward after several amendments were suggested in it by a Parliamentary Standing Committee and the 15th Lok Sabha lapsed by the time any forward movement could take place in it.
Tomar had hinted last month that the amendments to the aforementioned legislation would be carried in the coming session of Parliament, in an effort to strengthen the mining sector that has been hit by illegalities in several mineral-rich states.
Sources pointed out that a strong likelihood of the Government favouring auction of mining leases is emerging, especially after the Supreme Court verdict on coal blocks allocations, where the Government had given an indication that once the blocks are cancelled, they could be re-allotted in a fair manner, read through the auction route, though it may take some time to happen.
"We are working on changes to the MMDR Amendment Bill that was tabled in 2011-12 by the previous government. The Bill could not be passed as it lapsed with the completion of the term of the Parliament. However, we wish to reintroduce the Bill with certain changes in the coming session," Tomar had indicated in an industry event.
Sources privy to the development said that Tomar's consultations with all the mineral-rich states on the Mining Bill are almost over, and quite a few changes have been suggested by them in the legislations. A panel may be set up by the Mines Ministry to consider these suggestions before the Bill is moved to Parliament.
They added that discussions within Mines Ministry on the changes suggested by the states are likely to be begin by end of this month so that preparations for introduction of the Bill in the Winter session (tentatively scheduled for third week of November) can be in sync.
The Mines Minister has discussed the issuance of mining leases within the ministry. He was learnt to have sought opinion of his officials on giving out leases through competitive bidding, however, he was advised against it, and consequently the ministry had planned to move a cabinet note seeking views of stakeholders on whether this specific provision of the Mining Bill - technically known as Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, can be reworked.
The consultations with mineral-rich states like Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, had been initiated soon after this by Tomar.
The consultative process was begun after the minister was apparently told that issuing mining leases through competitive bidding is something which is not prevalent globally, as without having an idea about the exact quantity of minerals held by a mine, it is virtually impossible to lease it out through bidding.
The Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Amendment Bill 2011, which was introduced in Parliament by the UPA Government, could not be taken forward after several amendments were suggested in it by a Parliamentary Standing Committee and the 15th Lok Sabha lapsed by the time any forward movement could take place in it.
Tomar had hinted last month that the amendments to the aforementioned legislation would be carried in the coming session of Parliament, in an effort to strengthen the mining sector that has been hit by illegalities in several mineral-rich states.
Sources pointed out that a strong likelihood of the Government favouring auction of mining leases is emerging, especially after the Supreme Court verdict on coal blocks allocations, where the Government had given an indication that once the blocks are cancelled, they could be re-allotted in a fair manner, read through the auction route, though it may take some time to happen.
"We are working on changes to the MMDR Amendment Bill that was tabled in 2011-12 by the previous government. The Bill could not be passed as it lapsed with the completion of the term of the Parliament. However, we wish to reintroduce the Bill with certain changes in the coming session," Tomar had indicated in an industry event.
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