The Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED) with the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC) organized a two-day Mining Conclave, “MINCON – 2019 – Minerals in Maharashtra – Potential & Opportunities” in Feb 2019, one of the significant outcomes of which was that the then Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, gave the responsibility to VED and MSMC of drafting recommendations for the formulation of the State Govt.’s Mining .
VED invited and held extensive deliberations with stake-holders, mine-owners, experts in the mining industry and legal experts, particularly in mining affairs, who came forward and suggested a framework for a mineral-processing zone comprising the incentives required, concessions to be given, etc. and submitted the draft to the Govt. through the MSMC.
VED hopes and feels reassured that in due course the new Government would declare the newly worked-on mineral policy so that our state could compete with the neighbouring states in terms of mining exploration.
The focus areas of the Policy emphasize ease of doing business by investors, stakeholders, mine-owners in this sector by streamlining policy matters mainly for minor materials, not major ones which are the responsibility of the Central Govt.
The recommendations have very clearly laid down the roadmap for leases expiring in 2020 and also the concern of the investors wherein long leases are not granted by the government.
VED has urged the government to obtain all necessary clearances, particularly with regard to the environment, and only then put up the mines for auction.
Legal expert in this sector, VED member, Bhupesh Shukla, VED Vice-President and expert on minerals, Pradeep Maheshwari and mining expert, Arun Deoras, deliberated on matters in their minute details and readied the Policy recommendations.
