From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 13: State mines and geology minister Murugesh Nirani called on union minister for parliamentary affairs, coal and mines Prahlad Joshi in Delhi on Saturday and sought his help in getting nearly Rs 18,000 crore fund owed to Karnataka collected from iron ore mines as fines and levies.

The minister urged Prahlad Joshi, who also hails from Karnataka and handles the union ministry of coal and mines, to ensure that the amount collected as fines and levies from iron ore mines during the last six years as per the Supreme Court order must be released to the state.

Nirani urged Joshi to expedite all formalities and extend legal and administrative help in getting the accumulated fund to the state kitty and to go ahead with the implementation of Comprehensive Environmental Plan for Mining Impact Zone (CEPMIZ) in the state.

In view of the long pendency of the matter and in order to rehabilitate the mining ravaged areas in the three districts of Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru, urgent direction from the Supreme Court is required to go ahead with the implementation of CEPMIZ, Nirani said.

Nirani also raised the issue of a Supreme Court order asking mining companies to carry out CEPMIZ works in Odisha and a similar order in a mining case in Karnataka to the notice of the union minister.

He informed the union minister about an action plan created by his department to implement welfare schemes at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore that includes Rs 18,000 crore fund and the future revenue collection in the next five years.

Murugesh Nirani also informed Joshi about the collection of Rs 2,200 crore under district mineral fund in several districts and requested him to extend necessary help from the Centre to carry out welfare schemes.

The minister had recently met Joshi at BJP office in Malleshwaram and discussed the issues concerning the department.

The union minister had advised the mines and geology minister to visit Delhi to discuss the matters elaborately and promised to extend cooperation to clear the various proposals of mines department in Karnataka pending at various stages at the Centre.

During the lengthy meeting with the union minister, Nirani discussed various matters related to his department.  He also raised the following issues related to mining activities of Karnataka State Minerals Corporation Limited (KSMCL) pending clearance at the Centre.

The minister urged the union minister to ensure reservation of 219 hectares of area for chromite and titaniferous magnetite at Rayasamudra Kaval and Kamanayakanahalli village in Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka.

The proposal is pending approval from the ministry of mines, Government of India. The Centre has to take a decision for reservation of mining lease area to Karnataka State Minerals Corporation Limited (KSMCL). 

The additional chief secretary (Mines) in the state had submitted the compliance letter in August 2020 on the additional information sought by the ministry of mines at the centre. 

Proposals in Byndoor, Kundapur taluks

Another demand was with regard to reservation of 120.60 hectares of area for Bauxite Mineral imparts of Paduvari Yadthare and Byndoor villages of Byndoor taluk in Udupi district.

The proposal is pending at the Centre and it has to make the decision for reservation of mining lease area to KSMCL. The state had submitted the compliance letter July 2020 on the additional information sought by the Centre.

Reservation of area to the extent of 23.80 hectares for Bauxite at Paduvare village in Kundapura Taluk, Udupi District was another demand.

Nirani explained that the proposal is pending before the centre and it has to take an early decision for reservation of mining lease area. As per the discussions with the joint secretary, ministry of mines, KSMCL had submitted the facts of the case during March 2020. 

The minister sought diversion of additional forest land over an area of 145.00 hectares for mining in North East block, Sandur taluk, Ballari district. 

The proposal is pending before the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF& CC).  The additional chief secretary, forest, ecology and environment department in the state had submitted during May 2020 urging MoEF& CC to accord in-principle approval. 

He apprised the Union minister that name of Mysore Minerals Limited is to be changed to Karnataka State Minerals Corporation Limited. The proposal is pending approval from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF& CC). 

The additional chief secretary, forest, ecology and environment department in the state had urged the centre in February 2020 to change the name of user agency from Mysore Minerals Limited to Karnataka State Minerals Corporation Limited for all the mines that are owned by Mysore Minerals Limited.

Prahlad Joshi promised to get the proposals examined by his ministry and he would positively look into the proposals.

PC Ray, managing director, Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation and D Ramesh, director of mines and geology department were also present during the meeting.

Mines and geology minister Murugesh Nirani paid courtesy calls on union defence minister Rajnath Singh and also senior BJP leader and state in-charge Arun Singh during his visit to Delhi.