State mining corpn gets shell agency status

Now, the MSMC has decided to extend guidance to entrepreneurs desirous of assistance for launching mining projects and also help those who are interested in opening mines after obtaining the letter of interest from the government.

According to the MSMC officials, it will promote new mining projects by way of extending assistance to identify economically-viable mineral prospects and to obtain no-objection certificates from the departments concerned. It will provide basic infrastructureal facilities for commencement of mining projects.

More importantly, the MSMC will identify land for carrying out compensatory afforestation in case of mining projects located in forest areas. Such mining projects get clearance on the condition that land is made available for carrying out compensatory afforestation. In addition, it will carry out studies for resettlement of villages displaced by mining projects and estimate cost of resettlement of villages, including the costs involved in providing infrastructuiral facilities like laying of roads.

It will formulate prospecting schemes for detailed exploration and to study the scope of mineral beneficiation.