Committee Chairman Ansari Emphasizes National Capital, Employment in Minerals Bill

Kathmandu. Chairman of the Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee, Rahbar Ansari, has stated that the 'Mines and Minerals Bill, 2083' should be advanced by linking it to national capital formation, employment generation, and industrial development. On Friday, during the theoretical discussion on the bill in the committee, Chairman Ansari said that the mineral and mine resources available in Nepal should be utilized in a systematic manner to form national capital that benefits the state. He emphasized that the bill should be advanced in a way that contributes to employment generation through mining industries, growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the protection and promotion of industries. Informing that more than 250 amendment proposals have been received on the bill, he stated that the amendment proposers and stakeholders will also be included in the upcoming clause-wise discussion. Chairman Ansari stressed the need to study with data the problems faced by individuals who have applied for and obtained permits for excavation, exploration, and research at the Department of Mines and Geology. He instructed the officials of the department to present details in the committee regarding how many files are registered in the department's mine permit and lease branch, which of these files have been pending for how long, and the reasons for the delay. He urged them to present the reasons for the files not moving forward and their solutions with data. He also directed them to provide the number of employees working in the branch, the files under each employee's responsibility, and the details of the files they have processed. Stating that the committee has taken the government's 'Zero Pending File' concept seriously, he said that the situation of any file being unnecessarily delayed for a long time should end. He emphasized the need to create a conducive environment for industrialists and investors who wish to invest in the mining sector. Mentioning that it is heard that operating mines in some foreign countries is easier than doing mining-related work in Nepal, he said that the actual situation should be studied and the problems solved. Chairman Ansari stated that the department should prioritize project documents and legal procedures, not individuals. He said that the practice of investors or license holders having to be compulsorily present in the office can discourage investors and stated that clarity is needed on this matter. Mentioning that complaints related to mines have reached the committee, he said that instead of immediately focusing on accusations and counter-accusations, the bill should be made effective by learning from past problems and experiences. He emphasized that the bill should not be limited to discussion but should be 'result-oriented'. He stated that results such as GDP growth, employment generation, and increase in national income should be visible from the development of the mining sector. He mentioned that clear provisions should be included in the law to minimize the environmental impact during mine excavation. Speaking at the committee meeting, Chairman Ansari said, 'In the upcoming discussion, we will interact with stakeholders. Officials from the concerned department must be present with data on how many files have been registered in the relevant branch so far, which ones have not been able to move forward, for what reasons, since when, and why.' Clarifying the solutions and implementation of government policy, he added, 'Also, solutions necessary to move the files forward must be brought. The committee has taken this matter seriously.' Reminding of the 'Zero Pending' policy, he said, 'When the government was formed, the Prime Minister's Office had advanced the policy of zero pending files, instructing that no file should be kept pending for more than a week. Therefore, its implementation status must also be clarified.' He emphasized the need to create a strong and result-oriented act to systematize the mines and minerals sector by incorporating the current problems, stakeholder experiences, and expert suggestions.