10-Feb-2020: Web Portal Launched for Star Rating of Mines in India
In order to promote green, safe and sustainable mining practices using technology as a tool, Ministry of Coal (MoC) has launched a web portal for star rating of coal mines. Union Minister for Coal & Mines Shri Pralhad Joshi launched this portal in New Delhi today which enables all operational coal mines across India for self-rating, their subsequent validation by Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO), further evaluation and finally award of star rating.
Based on the star ratings obtained through a well-defined mechanism on this web portal, the highest scoring mines in the country will be awarded in a public ceremony. Besides, all the mines will be given an official certificate by the CCO mentioning their star rating and the particular reporting year. The mines that score from 91 to 100% will get 5 star, 81 to 90% 4 star, 71 to 80% 3 star, 61 to 70% 2 star, 41 to 60% 1 star and mines that score from 0 to 40% will get No star on the portal as per laid down procedures of the Star Rating Policy for Coal Mines in India.
The portal will provide a login to each coal mine for self-evaluation along with necessary documents for testimonials. The field offices of CCO will be provided a separate login to the web portal through which they can access the submissions of self-evaluation. A validation committee constituted through CCO will put the final remarks based on the laid down policy and finally the star rating will be recorded on the portal.
Notably, Ministry of Coal last year had formulated a Star Rating Policy for Coal Mines in India. This policy envisages 50 evaluation parameters in Opencast Mines and 47 in Underground Mines as star rating criteria under seven broad modules namely - Mining Operations Related Parameters, Environment related parameters, Adoption of Technologies: Best Mining Practices, Economic performance, Rehabilitation & Resettlement related parameters, Worker related Compliance and Safety and security related parameters.
15-Dec-2016: Star Rating of Mines
A ‘Star Rating’ system has been instituted by the Ministry of Mines through Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), in which star rating will be awarded to the mining leases for their efforts and initiatives taken for implementation of the Sustainable Development Framework (SDF), vide notification no. 31/4/2016-M.III dated 23rd May, 2016. Rating of one to five stars would be given to the mines by IBM. The best performing leases would be given 5 Stars. Under this system, a provisional ‘Star Rating’ would be awarded on self-certification basis of the evaluation template, filed by the mining lessee. A web-portal has been developed for online filing of the evaluation template for Star Rating of Mines. The data for the performance in 2015-16 as per the evaluation template of Star Rating will be filed by the mining lessees. The Star Rating data is to be filed by all the major mineral lease. However only those mines which working for more than 180 days in the reporting year of 2015-16 will be evaluated. The confirmation of star rating would be given upon the due verification in the next inspection by IBM official.
Rule 45 of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, (MCDR) 1988 prescribes that the owner, agent, mining engineer or manager of every mine, or any person or company engaged in trading or storage or end-use or export of minerals would register with Indian Bureau of Mines (a subordinate office of the Ministry of Mines) and submit monthly/ annual returns for end-to-end accounting of minerals. The registration and submission of monthly/ annual returns was required to be done manually. However, the said rule has been amended vide Gazette Notification No. GSR 430 (E) dated 19.4.2016, to prescribe that the registration and submission of monthly/ annual returns has to be done in electronic form instead of the manual reporting.
Initially, IBM felicitated 19 mines who were given rating of 4/5 stars, during the National Conclave for Mines and Minerals held at Raipur on 4th July, 2016. The State-wise details are as under:
|
No |
State |
No of mines given 5 star rating |
No of mines given 4 star rating |
|
1. |
Jharkhand |
1 |
2 |
|
2. |
Rajasthan |
2 |
2 |
|
3. |
Maharashtra |
1 |
0 |
|
4. |
Tamil Nadu |
1 |
1 |
|
5. |
Telangana |
1 |
0 |
|
6. |
Karnataka |
2 |
2 |
|
7. |
Chhattisgarh |
0 |
2 |
|
8. |
Odisha |
0 |
1 |
However, the star rating of mine is an annual exercise and every mining lease is required to file online return on self-certification basis.
11-Jan-2020: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches PURVODAYA in steel sector; Says mission PURVODAYA will script rise of Eastern India by accelerated development of steel sector
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched PURVODAYA: Accelerated development of eastern India through integrated steel hub in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Shri Pradhan speaking on the occasion said “Whether it is our freedom movement or social reform, eastern India has provided leadership to the nation. Eastern India is a land of infinite opportunities. Despite being endowed with natural resources, this region has lagged behind in socio-economic development as compared to some other parts of the country. Today, we start Purvodaya in steel sector, a new chapter which will script the rise of eastern India by accelerated development of steel sector through an integrated steel hub.”
Our Government under the leadership of Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given unprecedented focus to the development of eastern India. About half of aspirational districts are in this region which is becoming hotspots of socio-economic development. Our Government has come up with a Rs. 102 lakh crore worth of National Infrastructure Pipeline. Whether it is pipelines, inland waterways, shipping, air or road, our Government is building infrastructure at an unprecedented pace. Eastern India holds special focus in our infrastructure development efforts.”
21st century is going to be the age of knowledge and technology. New technologies are reshaping the economy and society. Industry 4.0 driven by digitisation holds immense promise. Embrace of Industry 4.0 by manufacturing in steel sector will ensure eastern India benefits from the wave of Industrial Revolution 4.0.
Stressing upon the need of improving business climate, he said, “Ease of Doing Business is not mere slogan for our Government. From setting up companies to regulatory clearances, taxation etc., our Government has worked on every aspect of improving the Ease of doing Business. Recently, our Government came up with perhaps the biggest ever reform in the coal sector. More revenue, more production and logistic development in the coal sector will further fuel the growth of Eastern India.”
Purvodaya in steel sector is aimed at driving accelerated development of Eastern India through establishment of integrated steel hub. Eastern states of India (Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal) and Northern part of Andhra Pradesh collectively hold ~80% of the country’s iron ore, ~100% of coking coal and significant portion of chromite, bauxite and dolomite reserves. There is presence of major ports such as Paradip, Haldia, Vizag, Kolkata etc., with >30% of India’s major port capacity. In India’s march towards a $5 trillion economy, the 5 Eastern states can play a major role where steel sector can become the catalyst. This Eastern belt has the potential to add more than 75% of the country’s incremental steel capacity envisioned by the National Steel Policy. It is expected that out of the 300 MT capacity by 2030-31, over 200 MT can come from this region alone, driven by Industry 4.0.
The proposed Integrated Steel Hub, encompassing Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Northern Andhra Pradesh, would serve as a torchbearer for socio-economic growth of Eastern India. The objective of this hub would be to enable swift capacity addition and improve overall competitiveness of steel producers both in terms of cost and quality. The Integrated Steel Hub would focus on 3 key elements:
- Capacity addition through easing the setup of Greenfield steel plants
- Development of steel clusters near integrated steel plants as well as demand centres.
- Transformation of logistics and utilities infrastructure which would change the socio-economic landscape in the East.
Growth of steel industry through such a hub would lead to significant employment opportunities across the entire value chain and will play a significant role in overall socio-economic growth of Eastern India, thus reducing the disparity between the East and other regions of the country.
26-Nov-2019: Automotive Mission Plan
The Automotive Mission Plan (AMP) 2006-16 taken up jointly by Government of India and the India automotive industry has been largely successful in its endeavor to lay down the roadmap for development of the industry. India has attracted significant quantum of investments from global and local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as component manufacturers, exceeding the target of Rs. 1,57,500 crore.
The Automotive industry has achieved the target of incremental employment creation of 25 million jobs over the period. For the next decade 2016-26, another Automotive Mission Plan, 2026 has also been finalized jointly by the Government of India and Indian automotive industry. Automobile industry has made significant achievements in developing designing and manufacturing capability in the country. India has now emerged from just an automobile producing hub to designing and development hub as well.