Overview

• On June 30, the Maharashtra government tabled a bill in the legislative assembly to create a 16-member Gadchiroli District Mining Authority.
• The authority will be chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and include nominated co-chairs, deputy chairs and secretaries from mining, industries, labour, energy, finance, environment and revenue.
• The GDMA is designed to consolidate approvals under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and the 2015 Mineral (Auction) Rules to speed up lease activation and project execution.
• Gadchiroli district’s rich reserves of iron ore, hematite, magnetite, BHQ, limestone, dolomites and coal are targeted to drive a new steel-based industrial hub.
• The government expects the unified regulatory body to boost employment, increase state revenue and reinforce security gains in the former LWE-affected region.