Bangalore,Feb6 : The Union Government will lay emphasis on deep-seated minerals including diamonds and their exploration in the 12th plan, a top official said today.

“India has made it clear that its basic emphasis in the 12th five-year plan is on the deep-seated minerals like copper, zinc and diamonds,” Union Additional Mining Secretary S K Srivastava said at the inauguration of the Tenth International Kimberlite Conference here.

India means business and it does not only mean in economic sector, but also in minerals, he added.

The government plans to bring about reform process which would motivate multi-national companies to come to India to conduct exploration of deep-seated minerals, Srivastava said.

India also wants to make bureacratic delays in giving nod to exploration and mining a thing of past, he said.

Srivastava said government was laying emphasis on social licensing. “India is developing a comprehensive sustainable development framework which will ensure a synergy between miners, government and indigenous people from whom the land is taken for mining purposes,” he added.

The government is examining the issue and would come to a harmonious conclusion which would ensure welfare of the local people and motivate miners to participate in mineral exploration of the country, Srivastava said.

PTI