Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), the apex body of miners in that country, is ready to offer Indian companies help in the area of sustainable mining.
Melanie Stutsel, Director, Health Safety, Envionment and Community Policy, MCA, said that starting a relationship with the local community and developing deep engagements with them were key factors in ensuring a conflict-free operation for mining companies.
“Australian companies have developed the expertise on sustainable mining for several years. With environmental and rehabilitation issues gaining importance in India as well, we are ready to offer the needed expertise to Indian mining firms,” she told the media here.
Ms. Stutsel, who is here to participate in a mining summit in Goa, has already met key officials in the Narendra Modi government. She is also scheduled to meet officials of the mining industry here.
She felt that the issue of land rights of people who faced displacement due to a mining project could not be resolved merely through legislation. “It is not just a matter of legislative framework that drives these issues.... there is need to convince the land-owners about the business benefits that will accrue as a result of his giving up land rights for a mining project,” she said. “In Australia, talks to forge an agreement between the mining company and tribals can take up to six months, and if government arbitration thereafter fails to resolve matters, then six more months are spent on further consultations,” she said.
There was also need to ensure good returns to communities besides proper environmental impact assessment, she said. “One has to guarantee that there is no net loss,’’ she added.
She observed that large section of mining activity in India seemed to be out of the purview of regulation. As for Indian environment laws, she stressed the need for a single set of environment regulation.
