Team Herald
NEW DELHI: The Union Mines Ministry on Thursday issued a notification mandating mining companies to pay 30 per cent of royalty towards welfare of the locals affected by mining operations, it being only 10% if mining leases were granted after January 12, 2015.
This levy is over and above the royalty paid to the State governments, meant to help out the people living around the mines and affected by mining operations.
The money will go to the District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) mandated under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act passed earlier this year in all districts in the country having mines to fund the welfare of the people and measures for improving ecology affected by the mining operations.
Mines and Steel Minister Narendra Singh Tomar also launched the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) for use of the funds so received by the DMFs, hailing it as “a revolutionary and unprecedented scheme of its kind, which will transform the lives of people living in areas which are affected directly or indirectly by mining”.
He said a directive has been issued to the State governments under the MMDR Act, to incorporate the guidelines for implementation of PMKKKY by the DMFs in the rules to be framed by them for the DMFs.
Explaining the objective of PMKKKY scheme, the minister said it is (a) to implement various developmental and welfare projects/programmes in mining affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government; (b) to minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts; and (c) to ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas. Care has been taken to include all aspects of living, to ensure substantial improvement in the quality of life.
He pointed out that high priority areas like drinking water supply, health care, sanitation, education, skill development, women and child care, welfare of aged and disabled people, skill development and environment conservation will get at least 60% share of the funds.
For creating a supportive and conducive living environment, balance funds will be spent on making roads, bridges, railways, waterways projects, irrigation and alternative energy sources, the minister said, underlining that this would really help the people from the lower strata of society, tribals and forest-dwellers who have no wherewithal and are affected the most by mining activities.
