KOLKATA (miningweekly.com) - India’s Mines Ministry is seeking the appointment of consultants to advise on establishing an independent authority for the mining sector with technical expertise in strategic planning.

The Ministry has invited proposals from leading consultant firms that would be mandated to prepare a detailed report on the creation of such an authority in various domains of the mining industry and which would function independently of the government.

Officials said that subject to the final specifications to be laid down by the consultants, the objective was to create a body of technical experts for long-term strategic planning, balancing the often-conflicting interests of various stakeholders, while simultaneously functioning independently of the government.

This would enable the government to take a rational view in framing policy for the industry and not be accused of bias or influence, as had often been the case with the previous Indian government, the official said.

The proposal of an autonomous authority was among the first initiatives of the Mines Ministry after the new Indian government assumed office, last month, he added.

The authority would be entrusted to undertake specific studies on behalf of the Ministry, evolve long-term perspectives on sustainable development and could be appointed by various stakeholders and investors for research and studies specific to respective needs, the official said.

Meanwhile, taking charge of the Mines Ministry on Friday, new Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that environmental concerns would be given sufficient weight in any decision-making on the mining sector.

He said that growth and environmental concerns in the mining industry need not be contradictory if the government took into consideration issues raised by all stakeholders and balanced them in policy making.

The key for the successful development of the industry was to achieve "sustainable development of mineral resources and not exploitation of natural resources", Tomar said.