(HT)
The Ministry of Mines has amended the Mineral (Mining by Government Company) Rules 2015, to ensure raw material security and seamless renewal of mining leases allocated to public sector companies, a government statement said.
The amendment implies that all mining leases for minerals granted to government companies shall extend the mining lease for a period up to 12 years at a time. The extension is conditional, provided the mining firm makes an application to the state government at least 12 months prior to the expiry of the mining lease, it said.
The changes were made after minister of petroleum and steel Dharmendra Pradhan took up the matter with the minister of parliamentary affairs, coal and mines Pralhad Joshi, it said. “Soon after assuming charge, minister Pradhan took up raw material security for the Indian steel sector on priority,” it said.
