The Rajya Sabha passed three Bills on Wednesday unopposed, after Opposition members walked out protesting the denial of an adjournment motion over the violence in Manipur.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill that allows private players to explore for atomic minerals, the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill that exempts land within 100 kilometres of the country’s borders from the purview of conservation laws and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill that decriminalises several provisions in commercial laws to help “ease of doing business” are the three Bills which passed without much debate.
Atomic minerals
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill allows the private sector to mine six out of 12 atomic minerals such as lithium, beryllium, niobium, titanium, tantalum and zirconium. At present, only State agencies are allowed in the exploration of these metals. Lok Sabha passed this Bill earlier. When it becomes an Act, the Centre will have powers to auction mining lease and composite licence for critical minerals such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, platinum group of minerals and diamonds.
States such as Kerala had contested the Bill and urged the Centre to hold discussions with all mineral rich States before passing the Bill.
Moving the Bill, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi, said the Bill is an attempt to address changes in the sector. He said around 95 precious minerals are available in India but the country still has to import them. He blamed policy paralysis of previous governments, corruption and nepotism for large-scale import of such minerals despite the country having large reserves.
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, according to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, is to help build infrastructure. Lok Sabha had passed this Bill earlier.
“India is working on future infrastructure in a way that our forests are not disturbed and connectivity and connection can also grow rapidly,” Mr Yadav said, while piloting the Bill in the House.
Strategic projects
The exempted forest land includes land situated within 100 kilometres of international borders, Line of Control and Line of Actual Control, and proposed to be used for the construction of strategic linear projects for national security. The Bill also provides for exempting land up to 10 hectares proposed to be used for constructing security-related infrastructure, land proposed to be used for defence-related projects or paramilitary forces’ camps and public utility projects, as specified by the Centre, not exceeding 5 hectares in a left wing extremism-affected area.
“The intention of this bill is to declare zoo and eco-tourism as a non-forest activity. We want to create an atmosphere where local people will be able to generate an income and they will participate in more and more eco-tourism activities. They have traditional knowledge about all wild animals,” Mr. Yadav said.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill was also passed by voice vote. Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, piloting the Bill, said it will promote ease of doing business by decriminalising a number of provisions in laws related to trade and commerce.
