The Supreme Court, in its judgment says “the constitutional requirements on the Government would equally apply not only to the Government but also to private players in the process. Natural resources must always be used in the interests of the country, and not to promote personal or private interests. Under the provisions of Article 39 (b) of the Constitution “The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards that ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good “In its report, the Committee on Public Sector Undertakings under the Chairmanship of Mr Kishore Singh Deo projects a disturbing picture. It notes the present trend of exporting minerals particularly or iron-ore is worrying.
Globally, though many countries have rich reserves of minerals, they procure them from others to preserve their own minerals resources for use at a later date. “Our mineral wealth certainly cannot be frittered away for meager sums which are to be paid as royalty to fatten the purses of a few private individuals of our companies.” Hence it would be rather unwise and callous on our part to fritter away such valuable resources which we may require in the future for own industrial purposes including defence requirements.
In this context, it is pertinent to note to observations of the Supreme Court “Among various considerations, the prime aspect relates to national interest relating to the interest of consumers and protection of natural resources …..gas is an essential natural resource….. The Government holds this natural resources as a trust for the people of the Country.
Supply of gas is a matter of national interest……..” In a stinging indictment on illegal mining, the Committee says “it has now become an endemic feature” The Committee feels it is time to find out how much natural resources/minerals have been legally used and how much has been illegally mined. The national resources, especially minerals including coal, should not be allowed to become exclusive preserve of a handful of free looters. Another point which the Committee feels needs to be noted is that illegal mining has led to a situation where thousands of people have become homeless. This is ugly face illegal mining which involves rampant exploitation of people.
Tribals and forest dwellers have been irreversibly affected, having been thrown out of their original habitats. Lamentablly, this distressing scenario has forced them to resort to unconstitutional acts to go into arms of extremists, the Committee warned.
The Committee noted that the Government has formulated a new National Mineral Policy, 2008 which envisages the regulation of mines and development of mineral resources. The Committee commends the various steps taken/proposed to be taken by Government to check menace of illegal mining. The Committee further desire that the proposed action be taken up in right earnest and pursued expeditiously. In view of the emerging scenario of depletion of precious resources like minerals owing to injudicious export and illegal mining, the Committee emphasis upon the need to revisit the National Mineral Policy for effectively addressing these issues.