About Us
The Directorate of Mines and Minerals has been established in 1957. Being a multidisciplinary technical organization the main target of the Directorate is towards systematic and scientific exploration and exploitation of mineral resource of the State, to promote mineral based industries, to encourage employment generation and to increase revenue earning. This Directorate comprises of eight district offices with its Head Office at Kolkata, West Bengal. It carries out geological study, detail exploration and drilling work to establish mineral deposits, viz., Rock Phosphate, Tungsten, Base-metal, China Clay, Fire Clay, Blackstone, Quartz, Feldspar, Dolomite, Limestone, Talc-Steatite etc. at different parts of West Bengal, mainly in Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and PaschimMedinipurdistricts.
Most important functions of this Directorate are:-
- Mineral Investigation and establishment of Mineral resource.
- Preparation of State Mineral Inventory.
- Implementation of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and its amendments and the Central and State Mineral Rules, made thereunder.
- Implementation of UNFC & Mineral Policies.
- Processing, Approval and Establishment of mineral evidence (G-2 level) of in-situ minor minerals as per The Policy of Mining of Minor Minerals in Private/Raiyati land for the State of West Bengal in 2022 followed by SOP for grant of Prospecting Licence-cum-Mining Lease.
- Processing of Auction related matter for major minerals.
- Updation and publication of District Survey Report (DSR) of different districts after interaction with District Authorities &the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) regarding approval of the concerned District Survey Report.
- Processing of application for Mining Lease or Prospecting Licence-cum-Mining Lease in respect of coal.
- Processing of application for Petroleum Exploration Licence / Petroleum Mining Lease in respect of Coal Bed Methane.
- Assessment of Royalty on minerals.
- Realization of royalty on Coal Bed Methane (at Mining Estate Branch, Asansol).
- Processing and approval of Mining Plan / Modified Mining Plan / Mining Scheme.
- Chief Mining Officer acts as the Nodal Officer of the State for NMET fund collection and accounts maintenance.
- Inspection of mines as and when required and participation in joint inspection programmes.
- District officials under DMM set up take regular active role in State Level Technical Committee (SLTC), National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), District Environment Assessment Committee (DEAC).
- Through the State Geological Programming and Advisory Board (SGPAB, WB), this Directorate co-ordinates among all organisations like GSI, ONGCL, ECL, CMPDIL, MECL, WBMDTCL who undertake geological explorations to locate mineral deposits within the State of West Bengal and organisations like Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) who maintains the repository of mining data.