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Annual Report 1999-2000

 

CHAPTER - II

Role and Organisation of the Department of Mines
 

1. Main Functions

1.1 The Department of Mines is responsible for survey and exploration of all minerals, other than natural gas, petroleum and atomic minerals; for mining and metallurgy of non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, gold, nickel, etc., and for administration of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development), Act, 1957 in respect of all mines and minerals other than coal, natural gas, petroleum and atomic minerals. A list of subjects allocated to the Department of Mines, Subordinate Offices, Public Sector Undertakings and Research Institutions under the administrative control of Department of Mines is given at Table I and Table II

2 Organisational Structure

2.1 Headed by Secretary, the Department of Mines comprises an Additional Secretary, two Joint Secretaries, five Directors, five Deputy Secretaries, three Under Secretaries, one Deputy Director (Official Language), three Principal Private Secretaries, one Junior Scientific Officer, fifteen Section Officers, six Private Secretaries, one Assistant Library and Information Officer (ALIO) and one Assistant Director (Official Language). Besides this, the Department has a technical wing comprising one Industrial Advisor, one Additional Industrial Advisor, two Development Officers and two Additional Development Officers. The total number of sanctioned posts for the Secretariat of the Department of Mines is 52 Gazetted and 198 Non-Gazetted. In addition, there is a Chief Controller of Accounts assisted by a Pay and Accounts Officer and 35 Non Gazetted staff in the Pay & Accounts Office.

Table I

List of Subjects Allocated to the Department of Mines

  1. Subjects Allocated
  • Legislation for regulation of mines and development of minerals within the territory of India, including mines and minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the continental shelf, or the Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones of India as may be specified from time to time by or under any law made by Parliament.
  • Regulation of mines and development of minerals other than coal, lignite and sand for stowing and any minerals declared as prescribed substances for the purposes of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (33 of 1962) under the control of the Union as declared by law, including questions concerning regulation and development of minerals in various States and the matter connected therewith or incidental thereto.
  • All other metals and minerals not specifically allotted to any other Ministry/Department such as aluminium, zinc, copper, gold, diamond and nickel.
  • Planning, development and control of and assistance to all industries dealt with by the Department.

2. Subordinate offices

There are three subordinate offices under the Department of Mines, namely :

  • Geological Survey of India (HQ, Calcutta)
  • Indian Bureau of Mines (HQ, Nagpur)
  • Controller of Mining Leases (HQ, Nagpur)
  1. Public Sector Undertakings

There are six PSUs and one Joint Venture Company under the Department of Mines, namely:

  • National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Bhubaneswar;
  • Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), New Delhi;
  • Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), Udaipur;
  • Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), Calcutta;
  • Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), Nagpur;
  • Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML), Kolar Gold Fields (Karnataka);
  • Sikkim Mining Corporation (a company jointly owned by the State Government of Sikkim and the Central Government)

2. Research Institution

There are three Research Institutions under the Department of Mines, namely

  • Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, Nagpur;
  • National Institute of Rock Mechanics, Kolar; and
  • National Institute of Miners' Health, Kolar.

Table II

Organisations under Department of mines

Survey and Exploration

1. Geological Survey of India :

Regional exploration, geological mapping, surveys on land, sea and airborne surveys and priority assignments to GSI.

2. Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd:

MECL is responsible for detailed exploration of various minerals/ores by drilling and exploratory mining and proving reserves for their eventual exploitation.

Regulation and Conservation

1. Indian Bureau of Mines :

Engaged in promoting, conservation and development of mineral resources of the country.

2. Controller of Mining Leases :

The Office deals with the work relating to modification of all such mining leases which have been granted before 1972 i.e. the date when the provisions/amendments to the MM (R&D) Act, 1957 for the purpose were made.

(The State Governments have also framed Minor Mineral Concession Rules for regulation and development of minor minerals).

Mining and Processing

1. Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd.:

Incorporated on 27th November, 1965 with an integrated Alumina/Aluminium Complex at Korba in Madhya Pradesh.

2. Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. :

Incorporated on 22nd March, 1972 to own and manage the mines at Kolar Gold Fields (Karnataka) w.e.f. 1.4.1972.

3. Hindustan Zinc Ltd. :

Incorporated on 10th January, 1966 after the Govt. of India took over erstwhile Metal Corporation of India to own, manage and develop the mineral and smelting capacities for the strategic zinc and lead metals in the country.

4. Hindustan Copper Ltd. :

Incorporated in November, 1967, it is presently the sole indigenous producer of primary copper in the country.

5. National Aluminium Company Ltd.:

Incorporated on 7th January, 1981 to implement the Bauxite-Alumina-Aluminium Project in Orissa.

6. Sikkim Mining Corporation (in which Central Government has 49% equity participation):

It produces polymetallic ore which is treated in the concentrator plant producing copper, lead and zinc concentrates