In order to ensure even distribution of raw materials for steel industry across states in the country, the West Bengal government demanded a national policy on iron-ore, on the lines of the coal policy from the centre.
Call for such a policy comes while the steel industry, particularly the secondary players, in the state, face problems over supply of iron ore.
The state government expects such a policy to ensure that iron ore from states like Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are distributed equitably. It will benefit the countryÂ’s steel industry, said State Commerce Minister Partha Chatterjee said at the recently held Global Mining Summit-2012.
The two-day summit and 11 th International Mining and Machinery Exhibition was organised by CII and the Union Mines Ministry. A CII-McKinsey report on the mining sector, released at the event, said if the potential is tapped fully the metals and mining sector can contribute to $150 billion by 2020.
He said the state has identified six new coal blocks. Commercial production has begun in some of them, he added.
KD Diwan, CMD, Hindustan Copper, said the GDP contribution of the mining sector needed to be increased to 8 per cent to accelerate countryÂ’s economic development. He identified some of the challenges faced by the sector like the procedural delays and inadequate geological mapping.
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