What is Indian Bureau of Mines?

March 6, 2023

The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) recently celebrated its 75th Foundation Day. It was founded in 1948 as a governmental institution responsible for multiple disciplines like conservation, scientific development of mineral resources, and the protection of the environment in non-coal, non-petroleum and natural gas, non-atomic minerals, and minor minerals mines. It comes under the aegis of the Department of Mines, Ministry of Mines.

Why is the Indian Bureau of Mines in the News?

IBM recently awarded 5 ratings to NMDC’s iron ore mines – Kirandul Deposit and Bacheli Deposit. These mines were assessed based on their efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Framework, including impact management through scientific and efficient mining, addressing social impacts and implementing welfare initiatives.

What is the role of the Indian Bureau of Mines?

It promotes scientific development in the mining sector. Also, aims at the conservation of minerals and protects against environmental degradation due to mining activities. The IMB is responsible for both on-shore and off-shore mines.

How did IBM make the assessment?

Based on certain factors such as the adoption of international standards, mine enclosure, welfare programmes, addressing the social impacts, impact management, adopting scientific developments in mining activities, local community engagements, etc.

Above all the mines were checked if they implemented the Sustainable Development Framework.

Sustainable Development Framework for the mining sector

It was released by the Ministry of Mines. It is basically a guiding framework. The main objective is that the miner should leave the area in a better ecological shape. The SDF was developed in accordance with the National Mineral Policy 2008. The SDF includes preparing an overlay such as protected areas, scheduled areas, fragile ecosystems, dense habitats, etc. It also includes risk criteria, periodical review, updated information with the ministry, etc. Apart from this, the miners should identify new mining regions, conduct periodic regional studies, facilitate zero-waste mining, etc.

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