The Union Cabinet has sanctioned the National Mineral Policy 2019. The new policy will ensure more effective regulation, which will also lead to sustainable mining sector development in future while addressing issues of project-affected persons, especially for people residing in tribal areas.
The National Mineral Policy 2019 replaces the extant National Mineral Policy 2008.
The policy includes provisions such as -- Introduction of Right of First Refusal for RP/PL holders, encouraging the private sector to take up exploration, auctioning in virgin areas for composite RP-cum-PL-cum-ML on revenue share basis, encouragement of merger, acquisition of mining entities, transfer of mining leases and creation of dedicated mineral corridors to boost the private sector mining areas.
The move will strengthen the mining sector. The policy proposes to grant status of industry to mining activity to improve financing of mining for the private sector and for acquisitions of mineral assets in other countries by the private sector.
The long-term import-export policy for minerals will help the private sector in better planning and stability in business.
It also mentions to rationalise reserved areas given to PSUs which have not been used and put these areas to auction, which will give opportunity to the private sector for participation.
It also mentions about making efforts to harmonize taxes, levies & royalty with world benchmarks to help the private sector.
The policy 2019 focuses on Make in India initiative and gender sensitivity in terms of the vision.
Regarding the role of the State in mineral development, online public portal including provision for generating triggers at higher level in the event of delay of clearances has been put in place.
The National Mineral Policy 2019 focuses on using coastal waterways and inland shipping for evacuation and transportation of minerals and encourages dedicated mineral corridors to facilitate transportation of minerals. The policy also introduces the concept of Inter-Generational Equity.