Govt committed to social, eco equality for deprived: President

The government is committed to social and economic equality for the “deprived and disempowered” sections as enshrined in the Constitution, President Pranab Mukherjee said while asserting that all its schemes are for the poor, deprived and underprivileged.

In his address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Mukherjee spoke about a host of government schemes and initiatives covering aspects like housing, LPG connections, electrification, healthcare, education, farmers’ welfare, welfare of the specially-abled, rural development and urban development.

“All the schemes of my government are for the poor, deprived and underprivileged,” he said. Read more

Courtesy: Business Standard

Vedanta moves Delhi HC against retrospective contributions to DMF

Vedanta Limited moved the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, against an August 31, 2016 notification made by the Ministry of Coal, amending the Mines and Mineral (Contribution to District Mineral Foundation) Rules 2015 with retrospective effect from January 12, 2015.

Pursuant to the introduction of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act 2015, the Ministry of Coal had on September 16, 2015 notified various District Mineral Foundations (DMFs), which were deemed to have come into effect on January 12, 2015. The rules for contributions to these foundations were subsequently framed for ‘non-fuel’ and ‘fuel’ minerals in September and October 2016, respectively. According to the rules, contributions to the DMFs were to be made from January 12, 2015 for ‘non-fuel’ minerals and October 20, 2015 for ‘fuel’ minerals. Read More

Courtesy: Business Standard

13 Mining applications await Environment, Forest clearances in C’GARH

Chhattisgarh had atleast 32 mining applications pending which awaited environment and forest clearances besides those from Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) as on October 6, 2016, official sources informed.

Notably, Chhattisgarh is among seven states where mineral blocks have been auctioned resulting in total additional revenue of `47,551 crores to the Central Government as on November 2016.

The other states where the mineral blocks were auctioned are Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand, the Central Government has informed.

Notably, Chhattisgarh has collected ` 712.04 crores under ‘District Mineral Foundations’ (DMFs) from all the 27 districts of the State where the Foundation had been established, the Central Government has informed. Read more

Courtesy: the pioneer

Guides at Borra Caves an unhappy lot

In 1993, about 20 adivasis were recruited by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department as guides for the Archean age (4000 to 2500 million years) Borra Caves, located in the Anantagiri hills of Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam agency. Read more

Courtesy: The Hindu

Electricity may get costlier as states demand higher royalty on coal: India Ratings

New Delhi: Chhattisgarh’s request for a revision in royalty rates on coal to 30 per cent from the existing 14 per cent ad-valorem, will push up the cost of electricity by 7 per cent or 10-12paisa/kWh, India Ratings today said in a report.

The state government has constituted a study group to consider the revision in the royalty rates based on the request.

“Ind-Ra believes the royalty hike looks quite steep at 30 per cent, and if accepted, it will lead to coal attracting the highest ad-valorem duty compared to all other minerals,” the report said.

Assuming a pithead price of Rs 720 per tonne for coal, the royalty increase will also lead to a higher contribution towards district mineral foundation (DMF) at 30 per cent of royalty and National Mineral and Exploration Trust (NMET) at 2 per cent of royalty, which translates into a higher cost of electricity generation by 10-12paisa/kWh. Read more

Courtesy: Energy world

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