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Journalism of Courage
Disagreeing with a recent decision of a Group of Ministers on the money to be shared by mining companies for the development of the affected region,Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh said the local populations must be entitled to a share of the profits accruing from the mine and not just royalty.
In a compromise formula arrived at earlier this month,the GoM had decided that the company mining all major and minor minerals would be asked to set aside an amount equal to the royalty paid by them to the states for the development of the people living in the area.
Coal miners,however,will be required to share 26 per cent of the profits. I am of the firm opinion that not just for coal mining but for all types of mining… iron ore and others… local population should get 26 per cent of the profits of the company. I would continue to press for that, Raman Singh told said.
The chief minister said public sector units like the National Mineral Development Corporation operating in Chhattisgarh and making large profits from their mining. NMDC alone earns about Rs 4,000 crore every year. It is already contributing some money for the welfare of the people of the region. But it would be better if there was a fixed formula,like the 26 per cent share, he said.
