Mines Minister Dinsha Patel, who has been elevated to Cabinet rank, on Sunday expressed the hope that new Mines Bill will be passed in the Winter Session of Parliament paving way for development of tribal areas besides curbing illegal mining.
“The draft MMDR Bill is with the Standing Committee. I am hopeful that it will be passed in the Winter Session. Once it becomes legislation, it would result in the development of tribal areas,” he told PTI .
Before Sunday’s Cabinet reshuffle in which he was elevated to Cabinet rank, Mr. Patel was Minister of State with Independent Charge in the same ministry.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Patel, who represents Kheda constituency in Gujarat, has previously held many portfolios, including MoS in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Ministry.
The Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Bill, 2011 provides for 26 per cent profit-sharing by coal miners with project-affected people. The Bill also provides for 100 per cent royalty to the state government by non-coal miners.
Mr. Patel said once the Bill becomes law, it would pave way for development of the far-flung tribal areas as it has provision for district development through profit-sharing.
ADVERTISEMENT
The royalty too would almost double benefit the state governments, he said.
“The new Bill has provisions to curb illegal mining and I am confident that it would check the menace,” he added.