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Kerala opposes changes to MMDR Act

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

 

Source: The Hindu

Context:

  • The Kerala government has opposed the new set of proposed amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.
  • The State Industries Minister met the Union Coal and Mines Minister and told him that the amendments are a breach of States Rights as minerals come under the purview of States.
  • The Centre had invited suggestions from the public to the draft amendments to the MMDR Act.

 

Key Highlights:

  • Centre to auction some minerals from the list of atomic minerals: The main objection is against the sixth item in the note for consultation sent to the State governments that will empower the Centre to auction some minerals from the list of atomic minerals.
  • Entry 23 of List II and Article 246(3): State Governments are the owners of the mines and minerals located within the territory of the State concerned, and under Entry 23 of List II of the Constitution and the Constitutional right of the State under Article 246(3), State Assemblies can make laws on such minerals.

Article 246(3):

● The Legislature of any State has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the “State List”).

Monazite:

● It is one of the beach sand minerals that contain rare earth like lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium etc.

● It also contains thorium which is a “prescribed substance”, the list of which was revised in 2006 under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.

●It is a rare phosphate mineral that usually occurs in small isolated grains in Igneous and Metamorphic rocks such as granite, pegmatite, schist, and gneiss.

●It is translucent and one of the most resistant minerals to weathering.

● It is a radioactive atomic mineral used for the production of Thorium (as high as 500 ppm) and has the potential to be used as fuel in the nuclear power system

Monazite Distribution:

Insta Links:

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act

7th Schedule

 

Practice Questions

Q. How far do you think cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped the nature of federation in India? Cite some recent examples to validate your answer. (UPSC 2020)

Which of the following states have Monazite deposits?

    1. Kerala
    2. Andhra Pradesh
    3. Odisha
    4. Jharkhand

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a. 1, 2 and 3 only

b. 1 and 2 only

c. 1, 3 and 4 only

d. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (d)

Justification:

Refer to the image above