Interview Times 
MINING should be for the benefit of the society and society needs to be taken on board on this, said Vedanta Ltd. President Dr. TK Chand while advocating return of mined land to the land oustees.
Addressing the valedictory session of the
2nd Indian
Mining Conclave 2023 here on Wednesday, Dr. Chand said that the Mining community is taking multifarious initiatives to bring change in mindset and cultivate support of the people.
Elaborating on various initiatives taken like scientific min-ing, sustainable mining etc, he mentioned the sayings in Artha Sastra of Chanakya that people forget the loss of their parents but they will not forget the loss of their property.
“Therefore, loss of landed property for mining is a painful experience for the project affected people. This can be mitigated by making a provision for return of land to the land oustees after mining is over and land is reclaimed,” said Dr. Chand.
He also advocated the need for introducing equity ownership through Stakeholders Stock Option (SSOP) in the same line of Employees Stock Option
(ESOP). “Linking the interest of land oustees with the prosperity of the mining company will help in making seamless mining,” he said.
Dr. Chand further said that along with development in mineral bearing areas through SR and DMA funds, the path breaking measures like return of mined out and reclaimed land to land oustees and stock option for stakeholders will help in boarding the society which is so far lacking.
The Indian Mining Conclave
2023, inaugurated by Odisha Governor Prof. Ganshi Lal, focused on sustainable mining, logistics challenges, application of new technologies and other subjects.
Odisha’s Additional Chief
Secretary DK Singh, Special Secretary Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Vedanta Limited Executive Director Arun Mishra and several industry leaders participated in the conclave, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in association with OMC and top corporate houses.
