Lawmakers Demand End to Resource Hoarding by Mining License Holders
Summary
Lawmakers have called for stricter rules to stop mining license holders from sitting on mineral resources without starting work. They urged clearer permit periods, royalty sharing, environmental safeguards and transparency over ruby and uranium-related claims.
Key Points
- Lawmakers want the Mines and Minerals Bill, 2083 to prevent companies from holding mineral rights for years without excavation.
- CPN (UML) lawmaker Kshitij Thebe said permits that do not lead to excavation within a set time should be revoked.
- Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Badankumar Bhandari said resource hoarding damages communities while benefits go to a few individuals.
- UML lawmaker Gangadevi Shrestha asked the government to clarify rumors about uranium mines being given to foreign countries.
