Latest amendment to mines & minerals act comes as major relief to steel industry: Ind-Ra

15 Jan 2020 Evaluate

Expressing optimism, credit rating agency, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) in its latest report has said that the latest amendment to the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 comes as a major relief to the steel industry.

The rating agency noted that the amendment allows a deemed transfer of all statutory clearances for iron ore mines to the new lessees for a period of two years post licence expiry on 31 March 2020. Obtaining such mandatory clearances, which includes environmental, wildlife and forest clearances, typically takes 18-24 months post allocation of mines, and hence the two-year extension has been allowed, which would have otherwise postponed the commencement of mining operations by the new lessees, resulting in a short supply domestically.

As per the report, the anticipated supply disruption of iron ore, the primary raw material for the steel sector, post March 2020, shall now be substantially contained as the development ensures a smooth transition from the present leaseholders to the new ones, which may now take one to three months to commence operations. It also said that supply over one to three can be met through the stock available at the mines as on 31 March 2020.

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