Centre asks states to clear pending mine leases in time

There was a huge pendency of mineral concession applications. The pendency was quite high in almost all the mineral-rich states and the pace of disposal of cases was extremely slow, the communication said.

It asked states to apply provisions of the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act,the rules and the guidelines framed thereunder carefully and correctly.

Dispose of the cases strictly within the time-frame stipulated in the Mineral Concession Rules, it added.

The communication said it was a matter of concern that a total of 65,337 applications 642 RP applications,19,661 PL applications and 45,034 ML applications were pending with the state governments.

As per the rules,there are provisions for disposal of Reconnaissance Permits RP within six months; Prospecting License PL within nine months and Mining Lease ML within 12 months.

The ML is granted for undertaking operations for extracting minerals while PL is granted for undertaking operations for purpose of exploring. The RP is granted for preliminary prospecting of a mineral through regional,aerial and geophysical surveys.

Besides,notifications inviting applications for grant of concessions are kept open-ended,which does not help their timely processing and disposal, it said.

CIL awaiting green nod for 241 projects