New national mining policy by winter session

GUWAHATI: Union minister for mines BK Handique said here on Wednesday that the new national mining policy will be placed in Parliament by the winter session.

Mr Handique added: "Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 has been amended several times. We thought there was a need to come up with a new policy."

The minister told ET: We will give impetus to mining in the North East where there is a lot of untapped potential."

He said Jiajuri, which is between Nagoan and Karbi Anglong districts, has good silica reserves. "I have visited the place along with officials from the Geological Survey of India."

The minister further said: "We were ready for starting exploration. However, some NGOs pointed out that place is near the elephant corridor. We will shift the exploration site a few kilometres away so that the corridor is protected."

Mr Handique informed that the Assam gas cracker project at Lepetkata in Dibrugarh, Upper Assam, will be completed by 2012. The project was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.