Context:
High Court of Karnataka bans all mining activities within 20-km radius of Krishna Raja Sagara Dam.
About Krishna Raja Sagara Dam:
- A gravity dam
- Location – Karnataka (Mandya)
- Constructed during 1911 – 1932
- Operated and maintained by – Karnataka
- Built below confluence of river Kaveri river with its tributaries Hemavathi and Lakshmana Thirtha
- Brindavan Gardens – botanical show park built beneath the dam.
MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act
- Act of parliament of India enacted in 1957 to regulate the mining sector
- Amendments made –
- 2015 – introduced auction system to ensure transparency and fairness in allocating mineral concessions
- 2021 – to boost mineral production, improve ease of doing business and increase the mineral sector’s contribution to GDP
- 2023 –
- Attract private sector investment in exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals.
- Omits 6 minerals from 12 atomic minerals
- Critical Minerals minerals essential for economic and national security, vulnerable to supply chain disruptions due to limited availability and geographic concentration.
- Deep seated Minerals minerals lie deep beneath the earth’s surface, typically exceeding 300 metershighly valued commoditiesEg: Gold, Silver, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Nickel, Cobalt, Platinum, daimond..etcDifficult and expensive to explore and mine compared to surfacial/ bulk materials
Read more about Dam Safety Act
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following minerals:
1. Bentonite
2. Chromite
3. Kyanite
4. Sillimanite
In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: (d)
