core sector communique

Strengthening of Mining Activities

The Government has approved the restructuring of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) for increasing the efficiency of mineral exploration and mineral development in the country, including use of modern techniques and enlarging human resources. GSI has identified an additional budget requirement of Rs.172.0 crores in the XII Five Year Plan period for Research and Development (R&D) in Geosciences. The Working Group on Mineral Exploration and Development (other than coal and lignite) for the XII Five Year Plan (2012-17) in its report to the Government has identified an additional allocation of Rs. 275.00 crores for Research & Development, inter-alia, for improved mining methods, basic R&D facilities for Small and Medium Enterprises, deep mining activities, National R&D fund for Grant-in-Aid for research activities, and strengthening of State Directorates of Mining and Geology for ore testing and beneficiation studies. These additional outlays are proposed XII Five Year Plan projections for the mining sector and are a component of annual budgetary exercise of the Government and for the reason specific timelines cannot be indicated. This information was given by the Minister of State for Mines (Independent Charge) Shri Dinsha Patel in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.