CPI-M disapproves mining policy

By IANS

New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday came out against the new mining policy, saying unrestricted export of iron ore and other minerals will cause grave national damage.


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"Unrestricted export of iron ore will be allowed (in the new policy). This would be a short sighted and harmful policy. Indiscriminate exports of iron ore and other mineral resources will denude India of its natural resources," a party statement said.

The CPI-M asked the government not to approve the mining policy prepared by a Group of Ministers or GoM but to place it before parliament for further discussions.

The CPI-M also sought a debate in parliament over the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) act.

"The issues concern protecting the interests of farmers, food security, changing the Land Acquisition Act, setting a proper ceiling on land allotted for different categories of SEZs, ending unjustifiable tax sops and protecting the interests of labour within SEZs," the politburo statement said.

A parliamentary panel that submitted a report on the SEZ act Friday expressed concern that giving away huge chunks of cultivable land for SEZs and other non-agriculture projects would have a huge impact on the nation's food security.

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