Proposal to end iron ore leases of “no-output” mines

20 Jan 2021 Editorial Team

The mines ministry said it has prepared the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2021, seeking to amend the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016.

It added that the draft amendment rules had been made available as part of the pre-legislative consultation policy. Comments and suggestions have been invited from the mining industry, the general public, governments of states and union territories, stakeholders, industry associations, and other persons and entities concerned about the draft amendment rules.

Several successful bidders of such working mines whose previous mining leases expired in March 2020 have not started production even after a lapse of 7-8 months of auction and execution of mining leases in their favour.

Further, many successful bidders who have started production have not maintained the production and dispatch quantity up to the level required under Rule 12A of the Mineral Concession Rules (MCR), the ministry said.

The ministry said that it has been proposed to strengthen the norms of minimum production and dispatch through amendment of Rule 12A of the MCR Rules, 1960, to ensure sustained supply of minerals in the market in the future.

It added that the Rule 12A has been proposed to be amended to mandate a successful bidder to make a payment equivalent to the revenue share and other statutory levies that would have been payable at the prescribed level of minimum production/dispatch targets quarterly.

The ministry said termination of leases has also been proposed to be provided in the rules in case of failure to maintain prescribed production level for three consecutive quarters.

The decline in production and dispatch of important minerals such as iron ore not only leads to a spike in its market prices but adversely affects the manufacturing of iron and steel in the country too.

Also read: Amendments to mining laws get cabinet nod

Image Source

The Ministry of Mines (MoM) has proposed to terminate the iron ore leases of those working mines that have not started production even after a lapse of 7-8 months of auction and have not maintained minimum dispatch for three consecutive quarters. The ministry proposed to do so through the amendment of certain mining rules and has invited comments from the stakeholders on the same. The mines ministry said it has prepared the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2021, seeking to amend the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016. It added that the draft amendment rules had been made available as part of the pre-legislative consultation policy. Comments and suggestions have been invited from the mining industry, the general public, governments of states and union territories, stakeholders, industry associations, and other persons and entities concerned about the draft amendment rules. Several successful bidders of such working mines whose previous mining leases expired in March 2020 have not started production even after a lapse of 7-8 months of auction and execution of mining leases in their favour. Further, many successful bidders who have started production have not maintained the production and dispatch quantity up to the level required under Rule 12A of the Mineral Concession Rules (MCR), the ministry said. The ministry said that it has been proposed to strengthen the norms of minimum production and dispatch through amendment of Rule 12A of the MCR Rules, 1960, to ensure sustained supply of minerals in the market in the future. It added that the Rule 12A has been proposed to be amended to mandate a successful bidder to make a payment equivalent to the revenue share and other statutory levies that would have been payable at the prescribed level of minimum production/dispatch targets quarterly. The ministry said termination of leases has also been proposed to be provided in the rules in case of failure to maintain prescribed production level for three consecutive quarters. The decline in production and dispatch of important minerals such as iron ore not only leads to a spike in its market prices but adversely affects the manufacturing of iron and steel in the country too. Also read: Amendments to mining laws get cabinet nodImage Source

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Infrastructure Urban

01 Jun 2026

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

Infrastructure Urban

01 Jun 2026

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..