CMs of mineral-rich states to meet PM

The Chief Ministers will submit a joint memorandum to the PM and will discuss at length the issues pertaining to the coming mineral policy.

The Chief Ministers of the mineral-rich states will submit a joint memorandum to the Prime Minister on Wednesday evening, demanding that the value addition of iron ore and curbing of exports of the mineral be ensured in the coming mineral policy.

“The Chief Ministers of these states will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence and will discuss at length the issues pertaining to the coming mineral policy.

They will be categorically demanding value addition of iron ore within their respective boundaries and ban on its exports” said a top Orissa

government official.

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The Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and a senior official from Karnataka met on Wednesday morning and finalised the memorandum to be given to Singh.

Besides the Prime Minister, Chairman of the Group of Ministers Shivraj Patil, Mines Minster Sis Ram Ola and his deputy T Subbarami Reddy will also be present at the meeting.

During the last winter session of the Parliament the Biju Janta Dal MPs from Orissa had stalled proceeding of the Lok Sabha alleging that the Central government was not listening to the views of the mineral-rich states.