State to create new cell for mining
Sanjay Jog
MUMBAI, December 28: The Shiv Sena-BJP government will create a separate department for mining from January 1 despite the adverse opinion given by the industry and finance departments.However, with the chief minister Manohar Joshi making an announcement in this regard last week in the state legislature, the state cabinet has decided to attach the mining department to the trade commerce department whose focus is also promotion of trade and commerce. The supporting staff off the secretary would be made available by reappropriating the existing posts from industries and revenue departments. Top sources told The Financial Express that the industries and finance departments had raised objection on the very necessity of a separate mining department. According to these departments, it was not advisable for the state to put additional burden on the state exchequer especially when it was already facing resource crunch. According to the original proposal, the mining department with 23 personnel would
have led to additional burden of Rs 18.96 lakh annually on its administration. These posts include secretary (one)- Rs 2.06 lakh, deputy/joint secretary (one)- Rs 1.56 lakh, under secretary (one)- Rs 1.42 lakh, section officer (two)-Rs 2.14 lakh, assistant (four)-Rs 3.60 lakh, high grade steno (two)-Rs 2.08 lakh, steno typist (two)-Rs 1.80 lakh, clerk/typist (four)-Rs 11.91 lakh, driver (two)- Rs 95,000 and peon (four)- Rs 1.39 lakh. However, the planning department has given its nod for the expenses of Rs 15 lakh. However, following the objections raised by finance department the strength of the staff in this new department has been reduced to mere 7 personnel while assistance would be sought from the industries and revenue departments. The secretary would not have full time work. Joshi has defended the setting up a separate department with a view to attracting private sector in the mining development. According to sources, the present set up comprising two section officers at Mantralaya and at the
mining and geology directorate, Nagpur was not adequate enough to clear the proposals from private sector. It must be mentioned here that the government has denotified 37 villages from Vidarbha region for the involvement of private sector. The government has also issued necessary orders in this connection on January 4, 1997. The sources said the government estimates an investment of whopping Rs 10,000 crore in mining sector in the state. The mineral production has increased from 32.42 million tonnes in 1995-96 to 35.86 million tonnes in 1996-97 however, the revenue has reduced from Rs 284.59 crore to Rs 264.22 crore in the same period. Out of the state's total area of 3,07,713 sq km, potentially rich mineral area is ab-out 19 per cent spread over most in Vidarbha region.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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