National Mineral Policy 2006 - Department of Mines

there should be a time limit imposed on the Centre for disposal of the applicationwithin such time limit. A solution should also be found to ensure that the Centreadheres to the time limit. [2.20]• During the deliberations of the Committee, doubts were raised on the constitutionalvalidity of the proposal to amend Section 30 of the MMDR Act. In making itsrecommendation, the Committee relied on the legal opinion obtained by FIMI fromthe noted jurist Fali S. Nariman, a copy of which is appended as Annexure 2. TheCommittee’s understanding was that this opinion would be reconfirmed by making areference to the Attorney General before the GOI takes a decision on thisrecommendation. Some of the members representing the states also raised the pointthat in the interest of fair play, time limits should also be imposed on the Centralgovernment. This too was agreed to, as mentioned in paragraph 2.20. However, afterthe final meeting of the Committee had been held on 30 June 2006, four membersrepresenting the state governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Orissasent a note of dissent on 3 July 2006, which is appended as Annexure 3. [2.21]SIMPLIFICATION OF PROCEDURE FOR ASCERTAINING AVAILABILITY OF AREAS• The present registry system should be modernised by creating a digitised on-linemineral atlas, which will show mineral titles on a spatial map and would be accessibleto the public via the Internet. Investment of a large magnitude required by the miningsector in India cannot come in unless such a system is in place. The Committeesuggests that this work on the modernisation of the registry system may be taken up inmission mode through, inter alia, the institutional upgradation of IBM and theregulatory divisions of the State Directorates, the latter being incentivised by theCentre and implemented by the states. [2.27]• Block/grid based exploration area should be introduced for applications for theexploration titles of RPs, LAPLs, and PLs so that areas are clearly demarcated and theneed for hand-drawn maps is eliminated. [2.27]• Facility for on-line application system for mineral concessions should be provided.[2.27]201