Bhopal: Chief Minister Kamal has told that suggestions should be obtained from people before auctioning sand mines. Full transparency should be maintained in auctioning. He further directed that such a Mines and Mineral policy should be prepared, so that illegal extraction could be strictly prevented. Nath told that the interests of people of the state should be taken into account by making changes in the Mines & Mineral Policy. The Chief Minister gave these directives in a meeting held in context to the rules of New Sand Policy & Mines and mineral Policy at Mantralaya on Monday.
The Chief Minister stated that the procedure of auctioning should be prepared on the basis of suggestions received from the people. This will help in enhancing participation of people and panchayats too will get enhanced amount. He further mentioned that this procedure will prevent future problems of auctioning and full transparency will be maintained.
Nath gave instructions to make desired changes in the Mines and Mineral Policy of the state. He said that the policy should protect the interests of the people of the state. He told that priority should be given in allotting mining lease to the established industrialists of the state. Nath mentioned that it should be included in the mining policy that the processing of mineral wealth should be done in the state itself. This will provide employment to our youth and boost economic activities. He told to bring speed in assessment, auctioning and allotment procedure of minerals of the state.
Besides, Nath said that sand should be given to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas and for building toilets without any royalty. He also gave instructions to provide 10 cubic meter sand at a time without any cost to people making clay pots and to the people belonging to scheduled caste, schedule tribe and living below poverty line for their personal use.
Minister for Mineral Resources Pradeep Jaiswal, Minister for Finance Tarun Bhanot along with the Chief Secretary SR Mohanty, Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Jain and Principal Secretary Mining Neeraj Mandloi were present at the meeting.