Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Friday ruled out imposing a ban on export of minerals.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of diamond jubilee celebrations of KASSIA, he said export of minerals cannot be banned, but it can be regulated.
Moily

Ministers will meet in three weeks to consider revamping a five-decade old mining law that tries to balance the needs of investors with those of locals affected by the industry.

In an interview with the Times of India, the Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, talks to Pallavee Dhaundiyal Panthry about the latest highlights of the coal industry.

What are the latest highlights of the Indian coal industry?

The draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2010, which proposes to replace the existing law that has existed since 1957, has some welcome and much-needed features to check the scourge of illegal mining, ensure that the industry is less destructive of the environment, and includes all stakeholders in the profits produced.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday announced the government would soon come out with a new sand mining policy leaving no scope for middlemen.

Replying to a question raised by H P Manjunath (Congress) in the Legislative Assembly he said lack of co-ordination between the revenue, police and departments of mines and geology is encouraging looting of sand among mining contractors.

For a year now, officials of the Ministry of Mines have been seeking the help of beat reporters to garner support for a more enlightened minerals policy. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill which has gone through several drafts had pitted the Minister for Mines B K Handique against Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh in a rather public battle for turf.

BHUBANESWAR: The Centre

THE government could dilute a clause in a draft legislation that requires miners to offer a 26% stake to families losing land to projects so that companies have more flexibility while providing relief.

Upset with the stiff inter-ministerial differences continuing to derail its efforts in bringing about greater transparency in the mining sector by streamlining the grant of mineral concessions, the Centre today constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to iron out the wrinkles.

Indian laws regulating mining were enacted in the 1950s. They are long overdue for an overhaul and the government has been promising to introduce a new Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill for some sessions now. But inter-ministerial wrangling, not to mention differences between the Centre and states, have kept pushing back this event.

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