It was meant to be a project which provided information to stakeholders, increase efficiency, bring transparency and reduce red-tapism, but the management of solid waste from mining in India and computerised online register of mining tenements system (CORMTS) have not taken off even after three years of being conceptualised.
The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) had planned to take up two projects namely, management of solid waste from mining in India at an estimated cost of Rs 13.80 crore; and computerised online register of mining tenements system at an estimated cost of Rs 22 crore.
The CORMTS was to be set up on information on mineral resources of the country, excluding atomic minerals, oil and natural gas. The project was to be implemented in identified eleven mineral rich states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
A Lan connecting servers and clients will be established at all these centres. The data from each state department of mines and geology (DMG) will then be transferred to the IBM headquarters through the Wan links. The IBM will act as expert and system integrator for the project and will also work as interface between all stakeholders. The project was to be completed in two and half years.
The proposed scheme on ?management of solid waste from mining in India? is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of IBM in the area of mine waste management, involving evolution and utilisation of mine waste conforming to the environmental sustenance while eliminating hazardous consequence from the waste dumps. It includes managing mine waste inventory, characterisation, utilisation and regulation. It is also aimed at bringing draft legislation, suited to Indian mining scenario, for incorporation by the Centre, a project that was to be completed in three year.
According to sources both the projects seem to have been conceived by IBM without detailed technical feasibility study by some expert body and now IBM is finding it difficult to implement the projects. While availability of funds has stalled the CORMTS scheme, the issue of aims and objectives in the case of management of solid waste from mining in India has halted any progress of the project.
Sources added that after a series of meeting by the mines ministry with departments like science and technology, it was found the project involves much higher expenditure that the anticipated expenditure of Rs 22 crore, indicated in the project proposal while seeking in-principle approval of the Planning Commission. The cost of the project now is estimated at about Rs 100 crore. Accordingly, sources said the project has now gone back to the Planning Commission for approval, after which the expenditure finance committee (EFC) nod will be needed since the project cost exceeds Rs 50 crore. The project on solid waste management has also made no progress. The minerals chosen by IBM for the purpose of beneficiation may need review, sources said.
Both the projects cannot be started in the present form and need reappraisal by an expert body. An amount of Rs 3 crore available during the last financial year (2007-08) was surrendered to the Planning Commission and a token amount of Rs 2 crore made available for this fiscal is also most likely to be given back to the commission since both the project are not expected to take off any time soon.