52 Potential Mineral Blocks To Be Handed Over To 15 State Governments During National Conclave On Mines And Minerals

As many as 52 potential mineral blocks carved out of G4 stage mineral investigations will be handed over to 15 state governments during the fifth National Conclave on Mines and Minerals, which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 23 November.

The blocks are located across fifteen states including two blocks of North Eastern states, six of Chattisgarh, eight blocks in Madhya Pradesh and six blocks in Maharashtra.

These blocks comprise many minerals and deposits for supporting various industries and include eight limestone blocks, eight gold blocks, eight iron ore blocks among other minerals.

Auctioning of these blocks, along with the 100 blocks recently handed over in September this year will further strengthen the mineral economy of the country, the Ministry of Mines said in a statement on Saturday (20 November).

The Ministry of Mines introduced the concept of National Mining Conclave in 2016 in order to provide the right platform for meaningful interaction among all stakeholders like Central government officers who are policy makers, state government officers, the real executors in the auction regime, industrial sector and the industry associations.

Union Minister of Mines Pralhad Joshi will also address the National Conclave on Mines and Minerals on 23 November.

Various stakeholders of the mining sector from across the country will be participating in the conclave and hold strategic discussions on key issues and opportunities in the mining sector to bring in higher growth and facilitate the ‘Ease of Doing Business’, the ministry said.

According to the ministry, The fifth national conclave on Mines and Minerals will have many significant segments that will encourage exploration activities, auction regime and sustainable mining practices in the country. Award ceremony for 5-star rated mines for note-worthy performance will be another highlight of the one day conclave.

The Centre has recently allowed participation of private parties in mineral exploration by amending the MMDR Act to increase the pace of exploration and to bring in advanced technology the sector.

During the conclave, Pralhad Joshi will also launch the online portal for accreditation of agencies in mineral sector to enable private exploration entities to accredit themselves through transparent and paperless process.