भाग पाच-अ, असा. क्र. १६, दिनांक ३० जून २०२५, L. A. BILL No. LXV OF 2025.

M-23 HB 606 RNI No. MAHBIL /2009/40123 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ वर्षष ११, अंक ९(४)] सोमवारा, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ [पष्ृठे े९ किंकमं त : रुपये े३६.०० असाधााराण क्रमांक १६ प्रााकिंधाकृत प्राकाशान महाारााष्ट्र किंवधाानसभाेत व महाारााष्ट्र किंवधाानपरिरार्षदेेत सादेरा केलेेलेी किंवधाेयेके (इंंग्रजी अनुवादे). MAHARASHTRA LEGISLATURE SECRETARIAT The following Bill was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the 30th June, 2025 is published under Rule 117 of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rules :— L. A. BILL No. LXV OF 2025. A BILL to provide for establishment of the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority for the purposes of co-ordinating and supervising orderly and rapid development of the mineral bearing areas in the Gadchiroli District and executing plans, projects and schemes for such development and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. WHEREAS both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session; AND WHEREAS the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances existed which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action to provide for establishment of the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority for the purposes of co-ordinating and supervising orderly and rapid development of the mineral bearing areas in the Gadchiroli District and executing plans, )१( भााग पााच-अ—१६–१2 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ projects and schemes for such development and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, for the purposes hereinafter appearing; and, therefore, promulgated the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority Ordinance, 2025, on the Mah. 2nd June 2025; Ord. IV of 2025. AND WHEREAS it is expedient to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of the State Legislature; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows :— Short title, 1. )1( This Act may be called the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority commence- Act, 2025. ment, extent and )2( It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 2nd June 2025. application. (3) It shall extend to the area of the Gadchiroli District. )4( It shall apply to major minerals and specified minor minerals. Definitions. 2. )1( In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,– )a( “Authority” means the Authority established under sub-section )1( of section 3 of the Act; )b( “Corporation” means the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation Limited; )c( “Directorate” means the Directorate of Geology and Mining under the Industries, Energy, Labour and Mining Department of the Government of Maharashtra; )d( “Executive Committee” means the Executive Committee constituted under section 9 of the Act; )e( “Government” or “State Government” means the Government of Maharashtra; )f( “Mines and Minerals Act” means the Mines and Minerals 67 of )Development and Regulation( Act, 1957; 1957. )g( “minerals” includes all minerals except mineral oils; )h( “mineral bearing block” means the area prepared for mining lease or composite license under the provisions of the Minerals )Evidence of Mineral Contents( Rules, 2015, for the development of mineral concession like mining lease, composite license and exploration license; )i( “mineral bearing area development” with its grammatical variations, means the development within mineral bearing areas for mining lease, composite license, mineral exploration, allied mining activity and other similar activities; )j( “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under the Act; )k( “regulations” means the regulations made by the Authority under the Act; )l( “specified minor minerals” means limestone, lime shell, bentonite, fuller’s earth or such other minerals as may be specified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette, from time to time, and the threshold value of which is less than the threshold value notified by the Indian Bureau of Mines.M-23 HB 606 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ 3 )2( Words and expressions used in this Act but not defined herein shall have the same meanings as are respectively assigned to them in the Mines and Minerals Act and the rules made thereunder by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra. 3. As soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act, the State Establishment Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish an Authority of Authority. to be called the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority to exercise the powers conferred on it and perform the functions assigned to it under the Act. 4. )1( The Authority shall consist of the following members, namely :– Composition of Authority. (i) The Chief Minister Chairperson; (ii) One Minister to be nominated Co-Chairperson; by the Chief Minister (iii) One Minister to be nominated Deputy Chairperson; by the Chief Minister (iv) Two Ministers to be nominated Ex-officio Members; by the Chief Minister (v) Chief Secretary, Government Ex-officio Member; of Maharashtra (vi) Secretary )Mining(, Industries, Ex-officio Member; Energy, Labour and Mining Department (vii) Secretary )Industries(, Ex-officio Member; Industries, Energy, Labour and Mining Department (viii) Secretary )Labour(, Industries, Ex-officio Member; Energy, Labour and Mining Department (ix) Secretary )Energy(, Industries, Ex-officio Member; Energy, Labour and Mining Department (x) Secretary, Finance Ex-officio Member; Department (xi) Secretary, Environment and Ex-officio Member; Climate Change Department (xii) Secretary )Revenue(, Revenue Ex-officio Member; and Forests Department (xiii) Secretary )Forests(, Revenue Ex-officio Member; and Forests Department (xiv) Director General, Directorate of Ex-officio Member; Geology and Mining (xv) Collector, Gadchiroli District Ex-officio Member; (xvi) Managing Director, Member- Secretary. Maharashtra State Mining Corporation Limited. भााग पााच-अ—१६–२4 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ )2( The Authority may invite any officer of the Government or local authority to attend its meeting or meetings as a special invitee for the purpose of assisting or advising it on any matter or matters. The officer so invited may take part in the proceedings of the Authority, but shall have no right to vote. )3( A person shall cease to hold office as a member of the Authority, as soon as he ceases to hold the post, designation or office, as the case may be, by virtue of which he is so appointed and such person shall inform the Chairperson in writing of his having so ceased to be the member of the Authority, within a week therefrom. )4( The Managing Director of the Corporation shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as the Authority may direct. Meeting of 5. (1) The Authority shall meet not less than thrice in every year, and a Authority. period of not more than four months shall intervene between two successive meetings and shall observe such rules of procedure in its meetings as it may determine. )2( The meeting of the Authority shall be conducted at Nagpur or at such other place as the Chairperson may decide. )3( The quorum of the meeting shall be minimum nine members including Chairperson. Objectives of 6. The Authority shall have the following objectives, namely :— Authority. )a( to expedite the process of development of major and specified minor minerals blocks in the Gadchiroli District; )b( to co-ordinate between various mineral concession holders and mineral based industries; )c( to facilitate the setting up of Ultra Mega Steel Plants and ensure supply of iron ore raw material to them; )d( to develop the Gadchiroli District as steel hub; )e( to take measures for facilitation and for setting up mineral based industries in the Gadchiroli District; )f( to monitor the mining projects in the Gadchiroli District. Acts or 7. No act or proceeding of the Authority or Executive Committee shall be proceedings invalid by reason only of a vacancy therein, or any defect in the appointment of presumed to any person acting as the Chairperson or Co-Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson be good and or Member, if such act or proceeding is otherwise in accordance with the valid. provisions of this Act. Powers and 8. The Authority shall exercise the following powers and perform the functions of following functions, namely :— Authority. )a( to streamline and accelerate the systematic development of major and specified minor minerals in the Gadchiroli District, in accordance with the Mines and Minerals Act and the rules made thereunder; )b( to ensure compliance of provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act, Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, Mineral )Auction( Rules, 2015 and other rules framed by the Central Government or State Government; )c( to speed up the process of operationalization of mines; )d( to expedite the process of obtaining clearances for development of mineral blocks and setting up of mineral based industries in co-ordination with all the concerned departments and successful bidder;M-23 HB 606 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ 5 )e( to review and monitor all important major mineral projects and specified minor mineral projects in the Gadchiroli District for speedy operationalization of those mines which would include auctioned blocks and blocks allotted to the Corporation; )f( to formulate and review schemes for development of mining in the Gadchiroli District; )g( to examine and recommend major mineral blocks and specified minor mineral blocks in the Gadchiroli District proposed for auction as per technical recommendation of the Directorate and to monitor periodically the operationalization of such successfully auctioned blocks in a time bound manner; )h( to ensure adequate supply of iron ore to the Steel Plants in the Gadchiroli District, by development of iron ore blocks through Mine Developer-cum-Operator )MDO(, after the iron ore area is reserved for the Corporation by the Central Government; )i( to recommend to the State Government any matter or proposal requiring action by it or any other authority to whom such powers are delegated by the State Government for the overall development of the Mining Sector in the Gadchiroli District; )j( to prepare and implement schemes for providing alternative accommodation and for rehabilitation of persons displaced by projects and schemes; )k( any other powers and functions as may be prescribed. 9. (1) There shall be an Executive Committee of the Authority consisting of the Constitution following members, namely :— of Executive Committee. (i) Chief Secretary, Chairperson; Government of Maharashtra (ii) Secretary )Mining(, Industries, Ex-officio Member; Energy, Labour and Mining Department (iii) Secretary )Industries(, Industries, Ex-officio Member; Energy, Labour and Mining Department (iv) Secretary )Energy(, Ex-officio Member; Industries, Energy, Labour and Mining Department (v) Secretary )Revenue(, Ex-officio Member; Revenue and Forests Department (vi) Secretary )Forests(, Ex-officio Member; Revenue and Forests Department (vii) Secretary, Ex-officio Member; Environment and Climate Change Department (viii) Secretary, Ex-officio Member; Finance Department भााग पााच-अ—१६–२अ6 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ (ix) Director General, Ex-officio Member; Directorate of Geology and Mining (x) Collector, Gadchiroli District Ex-officio Member; (xi) Managing Director, Maharashtra State Member-Secretary. Mining Corporation Limited )2( The Executive Committee may invite any officer of the Government or local authority to attend its meeting or meetings as a special invitee for the purpose of assisting or advising it on any matter or matters. The officer so invited may take part in the proceedings of the committee but shall have no right to vote. )3( The Executive Committee shall meet at such place and at such time as may be determined by its Chairperson, and shall observe such rules of procedure in its meetings as it may determine. )4( The Executive Committee may, from time to time, direct that any power conferred on it or any functions assigned to it, by or under the provisions of this Ordinance, shall be exercised or performed by the Managing Director of the Corporation. Powers and 10. Subject to the supervision of the Authority, the Executive Committee functions of shall exercise the following powers and perform the following functions, namely:- Executive Committee. )a( to finalize the terms and conditions of the tender and approve the tenders to appoint Mine Developer-cum-Operator )MDO( for the operationalization of the mineral blocks reserved for the Corporation; )b( any other powers and functions as may be assigned to it by the Authority. Authentica- 11. All proceedings of the Authority and the Executive Committee shall be tion of authenticated by the signature of the Chairperson of the Authority or the Executive proceedings. Committee, as the case may be, or of any member thereof authorized by the Chairperson of Authority or Executive Committee in this behalf, and all other orders and instruments of the Authority or the Executive Committee shall be authenticated by the Member-Secretary of the Authority or the Executive Committee. Compliance 12. The Authority and the Executive Committee shall, while exercising the of Mines and powers and performing the functions under this Act, comply with provisions of Minerals Act the Mines and Minerals Act and the rules made thereunder. and rules. Powers of 13. The Authority and the Executive Committee shall have power to call Authority for any return, statement of accounts, reports, statistics or other information to call for from the Government Offices or other related authorities, which is required by returns, reports, etc. it in exercise of its powers and performance of its functions under this Act, or any other law for the time being in force and such offices or authorities shall be bound to furnish such information. Powers to 14. The Authority may, delegate any power exercisable by it or any function delegate. to be performed by it, by or under this Act to the Executive Committee or the Managing Director of the Corporation subject to such terms and conditions as it may specify.M-23 HB 606 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ 7 15. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any Protection of member of the Authority or the Executive Committee constituted under this Act action taken in good faith. for anything done or any action taken in good faith under this Act. 16. The expenditure of the Authority and the Executive Committee shall Expenditure of be borne by the Corporation and the Directorate. Authority. 17. )1( The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, Power to make make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. rules. )2( Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making any modification in rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, and notify their decision to that effect in the Official Gazette, the rule shall from the date of publication of such decision in the Official Gazette, have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule. 18. The Authority may, with the prior approval of the Government, from Power to make time to time, make regulations, not inconsistent with provisions of this Act and regulations. the rules made thereunder, for all or any of the matters to be provided under this Act and generally for all other matters for which provision is, in the opinion of the Authority, necessary for the exercise of its powers and discharge of its functions under this Act. 19. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Power to Government may, as occasion arises, by order, published in the Official Gazette, remove difficulties. do anything not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, which appears to it to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty : Provided that, no such order shall be made after expiry of period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. (2) Every order made under sub-section )1( shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature. Mah. 20. (1) The Gadchiroli District Mining Authority Ordinance, 2025, is hereby Repeal of Mah. Ord. IV repealed. Ord. IV of 2025 of 2025. and saving. )2( Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken )including any notification or order issued( under the corresponding provisions of the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done, taken or issued, as the case may be, under the corresponding provisions of this Act.8 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS The Gadchiroli District which lies in eastern part of the State of Maharashtra is endowed with abundant minerals such as iron ore resources, hematite, magnetite, BHQ, limestone, dolomite, coal, etc. Such minerals are used as raw materials for various manufacturing industries. As the Gadchiroli District is rich in iron ore, it has the potential to be developed as a hub for mineral based industries specially the Steel Industries. 2. The Mines and Minerals )Development and Regulation( Act, 1957 )67 of 1957( and rules framed thereunder governs the development and regulation of mines and minerals. The major mineral blocks are auctioned in accordance with the Mineral )Auction( Rules, 2015. The mining concession holder requires to obtain various clearances and No Objection Certificates )NOCs( from various Departments and District Offices of the Government and local authorities within the timelines prescribed in the said Rules of 2015. If the bidder fails to meet the said prescribed timeline, the allotted major mineral blocks requires to be auctioned again. 3. Currently, the absence of an integrated administrative mechanism hampers swift execution of the mining project. Hence, a need was felt for the establishment of a unified Authority comprising of certain Ministers and Secretaries of the relevant Departments of the Government under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister to expedite mining approvals and foster the growth of mineral based industries such as steel and cement, thereby accelerating the holistic development of the Gadchiroli District and consequentially of the State. The Authority will act as catalyst in speeding up the process of operationalization of approved mining leases. It will also generate employment in the said area and boost the revenue of the State. 4. The salient features of the law are as follows :— )i( to establish the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority in the State to streamline and accelerate the systematic development of both major and specified minor minerals found in the Gadchiroli District; )ii( to provide for the objectives, powers and functions of the Authority with a view to expedite mining operations in the Gadchiroli District whilst ensuring environmental safeguards and statutory compliances; )iii( to provide for constitution of the Executive Committee and its powers and functions for facilitating the work of the Authority; )iv( to provide that the Authority and the Executive Committee shall, while exercising powers and performing functions comply with the provisions of the Mines and Minerals )Development and Regulation( Act, 1957 and the rules made thereunder; )v( to provide for power of the Authority and Executive Committee to call for any return, statement of accounts, reports, statistics or other information from the Government Offices or other related authorities. 5. As both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session and the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances existed which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action to make a law, for the purposes aforesaid, the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority Ordinance, 2025 )Mah. Ord. IV of 2025(, was promulgated by the Governor of Maharashtra on the 2nd June 2025. 6. The Bill is intended to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of the State Legislature. Mumbai, SHAMBHURAJ DESAI, Dated the 23rd June 2025. Minister for Mining.M-23 HB 606 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच-अ, जून ३०, २०२५/आर्षाढ ९, शाके १९४७ 9 MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION The Bill involves the following proposals for delegation of legislative powers, namely :– Clause 3.–Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government to establish the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority, by notification in the Official Gazette. Clause 8(k).– Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government to prescribe by rules any other powers and functions of the Authority. Clause 17(1).– Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government to make rules to carry out the purposes of the Act, by issuing a notification in the Offical Gazette. Clause 18.– Under this clause, power is taken to the Authority to make regulations consistent with the Act and rules made thereunder. Clause 19(1).– Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government to issue an order in the Offical Gazette for removing any difficulty, which may arise in giving effect to the provisions of the Act. 2. The above-mentioned proposals for delegation of legislative powers are of normal character. Vidhan Bhavan, JITENDRA BHOLE, Mumbai, Secretary-1, Dated 30th June 2025. Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.