By IANS
New Delhi : The members of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Orissa Monday sought discussion over the new National Mineral Policy 2008 in the Lok Sabha.
“The house is in session, but the members do not know about the new mineral policy approved by the government. The house has been kept in the dark about such an important matter. The policy concerns us, and must be tabled and discussed in the house,” Braj Kishore Tripathi of the BJD said while raising the issue during the zero hour.
Other BJD and BJP members, including Dharmendra Pradhan, supported him. They said the policy was largely related to the states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
“How can the government finalise such an important policy without taking the members (of parliament) into confidence,” Tripathi asked.
The cabinet Thursday cleared a new mineral policy that is expected to attract foreign investment to the tune of $250 million a year for the mining sector.