Kathmandu. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari Yadav is preparing to give final shape to the bill designed to amend and integrate laws related to mines and minerals.

The bill, which has not been moved forward for a long time due to various reasons, is preparing to be tabled at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers as an important task completed as per the government’s 100-day agenda.

The bill drafted by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies aims to amend and integrate the legal provisions related to exploration, extraction, protection, use, license and regulation of mines and minerals as per the need.

Due to the lack of new laws for years, various legal and administrative complexities have been seen regarding the distribution of power, permission process, mining operation, revenue management and regulation among the federal, provincial and local levels. This bill will prove to be an important document for coordination between all three tiers of government, management of mining sector and investment promotion.

The government had made this bill a priority in its 100-day agenda with the aim of ending this situation. As per the same agenda, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies is preparing to finalize the bill and submit it to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

It is expected that the approval of the bill and its implementation into law would further clarify the rights and responsibilities among the federal, province and local levels, regulate the mining sector systematically, make it easier to attract investment and create a strong legal base for the sustainable use of natural resources.