All India Online Accounting System for Mineral Transactions

An All Indian Online System for end-to-end accounting for mineral transaction has been proposed by the Government to prevent and detect illegal mining in states across India. Under the online system, registration of miners, traders and exporters of major minerals like bauxite will be a must. The Central Coordination-cum Empowered Committee (CEC) reviewed and took decisions aimed at bringing about more efficiency and transparency in the system said a PIB press release. Some of the important issues that came up for discussions and review in the meeting were: action taken to curb illegal mining including use of satellite imagery; improving monitoring of the mineral system through a State Empowered Committee and District level Task Forces; plugging loopholes in the royalty collection system; strengthening governance by gearing up the State Mining Directorates; expediting approval including forest clearance cases to clear long pending mineral concession applications. Major decisions taken during the meeting included: Action Plan to be prepared to increase capacity of State Mining Directorates, End-to-end accounting system for mineral transaction to prevent and detect illegal mining through an All Indian Online System, Ensuring proper exploration in leasehold areas in a time-bound way to enable execution of Mining Plans in a scientific manner. The issue of illegal mining has escalated to alarming proportion in the country forcing the centre to set up a commission headed by Justice Shah to probe into the illegal mining activities in ore rich states. The commission is currently investigating in Goa by visiting mining sites ,meeting peoples representatives as well as Government officials and NGOs.