With a large number of mines remaining closed in Odisha due to lack of statutory clearances, both the state and the central governments on Monday resolved to make mining activities in Odisha a legitimate economic activity by complying with all such requirements.
This was decided at a high-level meeting presided over by Odisha's Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra and attended by Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Anup Kumar Pujari, and Secretary, Ministry of Steel G Mohan Kumar.
The meeting reviewed the situation arising out of closure of mines due to lack of statutory requirements. Stating that all mining activities were not illegal, Union Mines Secretary A K Pujari said the legalised mining leases which have been stalled due to non-compliance to statutory clearances or some inter-departmental decisions, would be revived through joint efforts of both at the state and the central level.
Pujari pointed out that as on Monday, Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act-1957 was the governing legislation of the country and all issues relating to lease, auction, prospecting license, renewal and others would be decided as per the provisions of the Act.
The Secretary also referred to various initiatives to open land routes to Myanmar and South-East Asia, including the Trilateral Highway Project (India-Myanmar-Thailand), the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project and the Rhi Tiddim Road Project.
These projects are aimed at enhancing cross-border trade, tourism, people-to-people contacts and economic development of areas on both sides of the border.
Wadhwa also said India was looking at long-awaited Imphal -Mandalay Bus Service, for which technical discussion were to begin. "Under the East Asia Summit, negotiations are progressing towards the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Trade volumes between ASEAN and India, ASEAN and Japan, Japan and India, and India and the US have been seeing incremental increase," he added.
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