MMDR select panel recommends changes to bill

The select panels on both MMDR and Coal Bills have submitted their respective reports. The MMDR select panel has recommended changes to the Bill, after the Mines Ministry proposed amendments.

The Mines Ministry felt that contribution to DMF need to be increased.

The select panel has recommended additional contribution to district mineral fund (DMF) suggesting that payments be prospective as well as retrospective. According to the panel’s recommendations, both mining lease and prospecting licence holders will have to pay DMF up to one-third of the royalty amount. The ML and PL holder will have to pay DMF amount equal to royalty paid.

However, the select panel on Coal has not recommended any changes to the bill.