The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested former deputy conservator of forests (Bellary) S Muthaiah and former deputy director of mines and geology department (Hospet, Bellary) S P Raju in connection with an illegal mining case involving the Associated Mining Company (AMC).

The AMC is owned by former tourism minister Gali Janardhana Reddy and his wife Aruna.Muthaiah and Raju have been named accused number seven (A-7) and accused number 22 (A-22) in the case.

New Delhi Keen to stay clear of the minefield of scandals and lawsuits, the Union mines ministry has asked the attorney general (AG) whether mining lease applications can be disposed of under the first-come-first-served (FCFS) policy, until upcoming legislation makes auction mandatory.

The ministry's concern is that granting mineral concessions through FCFS policy might attract strictures from the Supreme Court and run afoul of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India's stated position on the matter.Over 400 pending mining lease/licence execution cases are waiting for the ministry's no-objection certificate, before states can process the lease.

The coal ministry today said no irregularities were reported in the allotment of coal blocks to commercial entities during 2004-09.

Following the Supreme Court warning that the first-come-first-serve system for granting mineral concessions may be misused “by unscrupulous people,” the mines ministry has sought legal opinion on h

The Centre has expressed disagreement with Rajasthan government's mineral policy that reserves mineral-bearing areas in favour of State undertaking Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals (RSMML).

Court takes serious view of environment degradation due to illegal mining

New Delhi: Taking a serious view of environment degradation due to illegal mining, the Supreme Court has made it clear to Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan that no mining activity should be permitted or auctioned including renewal of leases for an area less than five acres without getting clearance from the Ministry of Environment of Forests.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the States/Union Territories can grant and renewal of leases for mining of minor minerals for an area of less than five hectares only after getting environmental cl

Bowing to a long-pending demand of the mineral-rich states, the coal ministry has sought the Union Cabinet’s approval to implement a new ad-valorem regime for collecting royalty of coal and lignite