By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Bring advanced technologies into the mining business will help in the development of the sector and country. Proper treatment of waste and disposal of mining waste is the need of the hour so that the nation remains clean and green. We need to switch to eco-friendly equipments which will help to minimize carbon emissions. The state and central government need to bring small and medium scale entrepreneurs into the mining business mentioned Mr. M. Nagaraju, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Government of India in the Virtual Chhattisgarh Mining Summit organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).
M. Nagaraju suggested that to bring capital into the mining industry, the middle cities and businessmen should be involved. For the optimization of efficiencies, he suggested that the government should auction large mines so that the business has a supply of input and raw material at the same time the different segments of the industry will get benefited.
While giving an overview about India and its industrial activity being a core indicator of progress and development, he opined that Chhattisgarh is crucial for the country especially in the mining sector which is an important sector for state and nation development. Mining generates employment for a large section of the population, which is the backbone of the economy. It provides secured revenue to a state so that the state is in a secured position to plan different projects based on the funds available to them.
At the center and state level, M. Nagaraju mentioned that we need to ensure that the business practices we follow are transparent and easy to understand at the same time it gives employment to the citizens of the nation. He also mentioned that Chhattisgarh should take the lead in the coal sector.Talking about the operation of mines, he mentioned that action needs to be done by the state governments. They need to partner with the entrepreneurs for quicker operations of coal mines.
Swapnil Gupta, Associate Director, Mining Advisory Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Limited gave an in-depth insight about leveraging the mining potential of Chhattisgarh for Atma Nirbharta Industry’s Wish list. He gave an overview of Chhattisgarh’s mining sector and its path towards becoming a mining leader. He mentioned that qualities like abundant natural resources; capital and investments; skilled human resources; technical and innovation hub; outstanding logistics and efficient supporting sector are required to make Chhattisgarh a leader in the mining sector.
Sanjay Aggarwal, President, PHDCCI in his presidential address emphasized the crisis faced by the nation due to the second wave of the pandemic and assured that the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry stand in full solidarity with the nation and the government ensuring that India becomes Self-Reliant nation in the times to come.
He complimented the Government of India for its progressive policies and continuous endeavors for developing the mining sector in Chhattisgarh which has been the richest Indian state in terms of resources.
Aggarwal mentioned that the Government of India’s bold structural reforms in the Mining sector has started to give results and India is now on the path towards becoming Atma Nirbhar in the mining, coal, and steel sectors. The reforms are likely to boost the production of various minerals by introducing competition, transparency, private sector participation, and an increase in foreign investment. We hope that the State Governments of mineral-producing states will also do their bit for getting maximum benefits from these reforms.
Anil K. Chaudhary, Chairman, Minerals & Metals Committee, PHDCCI while sharing his industry perspective, mentioned that we need to analyze and utilize the mineral strength of various states of the nation. Chhattisgarh has an abundance of mineral strength in the best of quality which needs to be harnessed in a planned and strategized manner.
Naveen Jindal, Co-Chairman, Minerals & Metals Committee, PHDCCI while proposing the formal vote of thanks to all the delegates and participants, mentioned that the initiatives and steps undertaken by the coal ministry are highly appreciable and with time things will get better and more minerals will be available. The state and center need to come together for the development of the mining sector. The Indian economy is moving towards a fast pace and we must develop the mineral resources for the country.
V R Sharma, MD, JSPL, urged the Chhattisgarh Government to allow the Iron ore produced in Chhattisgarh to be given to the steel plants operating in Chhattisgarh.Vijay Jhanwar, MD, Vraj Metaliks suggested that iron ore and other raw material should not be exported and only finished goods should be allowed to be exported.
The summit was attended by Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, and was moderated by Dr. Yogesh Srivastav, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI, and was attended by many industry stalwarts around the nation. PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s summit was supported by DLF India; Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd; UFLEX Ltd; JK Tyre & industries ltd; Marble City; Paramount Cables ltd; SMC Investments and Advisors Limited; Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic; Comtech Interio; DCM Shriram Industries Ltd; Radico Khaitan ltd; Ajit Industries Pvt Ltd; Synergy Environics Ltd; Timberworkz, IFFCO, JSPL and Vraj Metaliks Invest India supported the webinar.
