Ministry of Mines Hosts Workshop on Granite and Marble Mining in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The Ministry of Mines organized a comprehensive workshop on granite and marble mining in Bengaluru, bringing together key stakeholders from government and industry. The event was inaugurated by V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Government of India. Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka, delivered the keynote address.

The workshop saw participation from prominent figures including Dr. Veena Kumari D, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Government of India, Richard Vincent, Secretary, Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka, senior officials from the Geological Survey of India, and representatives from the mining industry, mining associations, and public sector undertakings. State Directorates of Mining & Geology from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu were also in attendance.

In his address, V.L. Kantha Rao highlighted the various initiatives and reforms undertaken by the Government of India to enhance the mining sector’s efficiency and transparency. He emphasized the need for state governments to adopt similar reforms in the minor mineral sector. Kantha Rao underscored the significance of the National Geo-Data Repository (NGDR) Portal, which provides comprehensive exploration data collected from central agencies, thereby facilitating easier access for all stakeholders.

“The NGDR Portal is a pivotal step towards achieving transparency and efficiency in the mining sector,” Kantha Rao stated. He also called for collaborative initiatives between central and state governments to comprehensively reform the minor mineral sector. “This workshop serves as a brainstorming session where industry representatives and state governments can jointly seek solutions to the sector’s challenges,” he added.

Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, in her keynote address, stressed the importance of collaboration between the government and industry to tackle administrative, technological, and other issues in the granite and marble mining sector. She emphasized the need for sustainable economic activities in mining and welcomed innovative startup ideas to address the sector’s challenges. Dr. Shalini also highlighted the potential of IT platforms to manage critical areas of the mining sector, ensuring transparency and reducing grievances.

Following the inaugural session, various stakeholders made presentations on the issues facing granite and marble mining. State governments from Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana responded to the industry’s concerns and showcased best practices in the regulation of granite and marble minerals.

Dr. B. Panduranga Rao, Joint Director of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce, presented on the role of the granite and marble industry in India’s cement and construction sector. Piyush Narayan Sharma, Chief Controller of Mines, IBM, discussed the sustainable development framework in the mining sector and the star rating of mines.

The workshop concluded with a call for continued collaboration and innovation to address the evolving challenges in the granite and marble mining sectors, ensuring sustainable and efficient mining practices in India.