The Mining Engineers’ Association of India, a national body of 5,000 mining engineers, is organising the ninth international Heavy Minerals Conference, HMC-2013, here with the theme of overcoming challenges in the sector.

It is the first time that HMC-2013 is being organised in the country and it will host 275 delegates from all major heavy mineral mining countries like Australia, Canada, Africa, the USA, China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Europe, and India to discuss the technical, managerial and business challenges and opportunities in the sector, according to a press release.

The 3-day conference beginning on Wednesday will be inaugurated at 6 p.m. by State Minister for Mines & Geology, G. Aruna Kumari.

Arjeth Bagchhi, MEAI President, says in the note that “mining is like oxygen to infrastructure, housing and manufacturing sectors. Even service sector cannot do without it. The industry is still in the nascent stage in India and needs encouragement. Sustainable and eco-friendly mining for heavy minerals will be our objective.’’

The country has huge deposits of ilmenite along the coast from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra to Puri in Odisha and the country, which till 1940 contributed 80 per cent of global requirement, is now contributing a mere 10 per cent only.

With the private sector, including foreign investments, being allowed from 1998 to mine heavy mineral deposits in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu & Kerala, the industry has so far been able to make only limited progress.

The association seeks faster clearances on land acquisition, environment clearances, forest clearances, and grant of mining leases. It also seeks legislation to protect mineral bearing lands.

>sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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