Uttar Pradesh, which has about 4,000 mines of coal, silica, bauxite and granite – mostly in Bundelkhand region, has mandated e-tendering for future allotment of mining leases in the state.

This step is aimed at preventing hitherto rampant illegal mining and ushering transparency in allotment of mining leases. Under the system, lease holder will have to get environment clearance for mining within 6 months if the land area is more than 5 hectares (ha), whereas, in case of lease for mining of area of less than 5 hectares, environment clearance will not be required.

Collection, compilation of information on mining still on from 7 crucial mineral producing states

The government has extended the tenure of Justice M B Shah Commission, which was set up to probe into the cases of illegal mining, by one year till July 16, 2013. "The extension has been sought since the Commission is collecting and compiling information on mining from seven important mineral producing states, which is quite voluminous, extension has been sought for one year," an official statement said today.

PANJIM: Curtorim legislator Reginaldo Lourenco demanded a white paper on the issue of illegal mining in the state and from the functioning of the mining department.

Speaking during his discussion on the budget, Reginaldo chided the chief minister for saying that there was no illegal mining in the state. “Illegal mining was one of the main election issues. I can show you the copy of the BJP election manifesto, in which it is said that illegal mining will be one of the issues. But today the chief minister has said there is no illegal mining,”

The fate of the four mining companies which have applied for ore transportation will be decided on Saturday.

District Collector N D Agrawal has fixed a hearing on the sensitive question of ore transportation on Saturday, which would finally seal the fate of the parties to the issue. Agrawal told Herald on Wednesday that while his office is in receipt of applications from four mining companies to resume ore transportation in the talukas of Quepem, Sanguem and Dharbandora, applications have also come in from NGOs expressing their reservations on mining transportation.

Apprehensive that the now-infamous first-come, first-served policy for allocation of natural resources comes with risks, states are now wiser and embracing the safer option of auctions for these allocations.

The newly-elected Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has introduced an e-tendering system for all leases on mining projects. The decision could impact the future of liquor baron-cum-mining czar Ponty Chaddha, who was seen as closely linked to the previous Mayawati government.

Three lessees charged with violation of Rule-37 of Mineral Concession Rules-1960 – Indrani Patnaik, KJS Ahluwalia and R P Sao- have filed petitions in the revision authority under Union ministry of mines, dealing a blow to the ongoing investigation by the state steel & mines department.

Indrani Patnaik has even got an interim order from the revision authority barring the state government from passing any final order in case of Rule-37 violation before the lessee’s revision application is disposed off by the authority. The state government, however, has been allowed to carry on hearing in the case, said a steel & mines department official.

New Delhi he Supreme Court has sought replies from the Centre, the Karnataka government and four mining firms including JSW on cross-petitions seeking review of its September 2010 order that set as

The Goa government on Monday admitted to "illegal extraction of ore" in the state but maintained that there is no illegal mining.

"Mines operating in Goa are working legally but there are irregularities on those leases. The mining leases are legal but at times the extraction of ore is done illegally beyond permissible limits," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the legislative assembly in response to a query.

SHILLONG: Close on the heels of the mining tragedy in Garo Hills region of the State where 15 miners lost their lives inside a rat hole mine in Rongsa Awe village in South Garo Hills, questions regarding the safety and security measures in place in these mines have cropped up.

Speaking to The Shillong Times, a senior police official from Garo Hills, on condition of anonymity, said safety and security measures are expected in mines that are extracting minerals in a scientific manner.

Panaji Sesa Goa Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta group, has decided to shut down operation of its two plants in Goa owing to scarcity of iron ore supply as the transportation of ore has been banned due to monsoons.

The closure is imminent within next 24 hours as the raw material stocks of iron ore are running dry, a company spokesman here said. The Pig Iron Plant (PIP) and metallurgical coke plant situated in Amona village of Bicholim taluka are slated to be shut down and feared to affect 1,200 employees working in both the industries.