Kathmandu, August 8

The Department of Mines and Geology (DoMG) scrapped the mines and minerals exploration licences of 39 individuals and domestic companies in the fiscal year 2016-17, as these individuals and firms could not show tangible results.

As per DoMG officials, these companies and individuals, out of around 128 firms and individuals that were granted the exploration licence of mines and minerals, were found to be only holding licences and not doing much in terms of actual exploration works.

The DoMG issues two- and four-year exploration licences to domestic firms and individuals on the basis of strengths of the proposal submitted by them for the exploration of mines and minerals. Similarly, the department monitors and evaluates the progress made by such licence holders every year and scraps their permits if they fail to show any tangible results.

“These 39 firms and individuals had made no progress in exploration works and were just holding their licences by renewing it every year,” informed Krishna Dev Jha, spokesperson for DoMG.

Similarly, the DoMG is also mulling over scraping the mines and minerals extraction licences of domestic and foreign individuals and firms by monitoring their progress reports. The DoMG has issued almost 500 licences for mines and minerals extraction in the country.

“Those who have taken licences for exploration or extraction of mines and minerals should engage in the activities for which they have been granted the permission. Otherwise, the department is obliged to scrap their licences,” said Rajendra Khanal, director general of DoMG.

Meanwhile, the government had introduced the National Mineral Policy in April in a bid to regulate the country’s mines and minerals industry. The new policy has envisioned bringing all mines and mineral businesses operating without fulfilling government standards under a legal framework and taking action against those that have been holding licence for long but not doing any work.

The National Mineral Policy has set an ambitious target of bringing in investment — both foreign and domestic — worth at least Rs 100 billion in the mines and minerals industry of the country within the next decade and creating job opportunities for more than 50,000 Nepalis.