From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 7: In an effort to bring in Ease-of-Doing business in the Mines and Geology Departments, Minister Murugesh R Nirani has promised ‘Single Window’ agency to expedite the applications for various mining proposals.

During a meeting held with department officials and various stakeholders, Nirani took stock of the issues faced by the investors in the sector.

“Our government wants to infuse confidence among the investors. We want the departments to go to their doorstep rather than theri waiting for permission for many years. The only solution to reduce the harassment faced by the investors to get permits from departments is in establishing Single Window agency under the department,” he said.

The speedy approval through a single widow agency will help investors to start the project and generate employment.

The proposal is to set-up two single window clearance committees at district level and state level. If the investments are worth below Rs 5 crore, the agency headed by Deputy Commissioner of the District will clear the applications, while projects worth more than Rs 5 crore, Mines Minister headed panel will give approval to the proposals.

The single window clearance system is in practice at industries and commerce department.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Mines) G Kumar Naik, Karnataka State Mineral Corporation Ltd Managing Director Naveen Raj Singh and Director of Mines and Geology D Ramesh.

At present, the investors in the minor minerals sector like – Sand, stone and granite – have to run pillar to post to four departments in getting NoCs (No Objection Certificates) before commencing the venture.

The system in practice is that an investor has to get NoC from Revenue Department (Deputy Commissioner), Forest (Deputy Conservator of Forests), Environmental Clearance Certificate from Pollution Control Board before final approval from the Directorate of Mines and Geology Department. In case of patta land (private land coming through ancestral property), one has to get NoC from Tahsildar.

“Irrespective of type of land (forest or patta) and type of mineral, an investor has to get an environmental clearance certificate. If the project is less than 25 hectares, clearance is required from the state pollution control board, above 25 hectares Central pollution control board is required,” the minister said.

Though the mines department is quite liberal in granting permits, the biggest hurdle which runs for years is in getting NoCs from revenue and forest departments. Through Single Window agency, the plan is to integrate revenue and forest departments for better coordination.

Going a step further to help investors, Nirani proposed that projects approved through single window clearance committees would be sent to various nationalised banks.

“Routing the approved applications to banks through the government will allow banks to come forward to grants loans to the investors,” he said.