CfP: WBNUJS National Seminar on Charting Contours of Mining Law Regime [March 31] Submit by Feb 20

The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata, a premiere national institute of law, announces a One-Day National Seminar on Charting Contours of the Mining Law Regime: Allocation, Investment, Development & Conservation.

Date

31st March 2018

Venue

The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, 12, LB Block, Sector III, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700098

About the Seminar

Mineral resources along with the mining sector play a noteworthy and stellar role in the industrial development and economic growth of a country. Mining forms one of the core pillars of the developmental processes, because it is seen as a key driver of economic development; whilst often concomitantly having disastrous human and/or environmental consequences.

It has escaped significant policy attention for a long time because mining often takes place in the remotest areas inhabited by people who are usually the least able to assert their rights legally or politically. In addition, the environmental and/or human consequences may not be immediately visible, necessitating legal frameworks to address long-term consequences.

Thus the unprecedented growth in the mining sector necessitates closer regulatory attention and wider mobilization of public discourse on these wide-ranging issues.

Thus, the Seminar aims at discussion and deliberation on the implications portended by recent regulatory reforms such as the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017, etc. for all the major stakeholders and players involved in the sector.

The themes of discussion seek to explore a broad set of law, policy and governance issues related to the mining sector besides other contemporary issues relating to mining like its interplay with the environment and the applicable laws in this regard, the interface of judicial review and the competitive bidding process, interconnecting technology with transparency-augmentation through the e-bidding process, etc.

In this Seminar, professionals, practitioners, scholars, and students from myriad institutions across the country have been invited and will be presenting their papers in order to promote dialogue and exchange of experiences in line with the theme of the Seminar.

Call for Papers

Well researched papers are invited from scholars, lawyers, practitioners, academicians, experts in the mining, research scholars and related sectors and students on the themes and tenors cited below. All interested may send an abstract of not more than 500 words highlighting the key issues intended to be discussed in the paper by 20^th February 2018.

Acceptance of the abstracts will be duly intimated by 25^th February 2018 after the same have been shortlisted on the basis of quality and originality of arguments, and the full papers are required to be submitted by the authors thereafter by 25^th March 2018.

The authors of such papers will be given an opportunity to present their paper on the day of the seminar under various thematic sessions. In addition to this, the presenters will be duly acclaimed by a ‘Certificate of Participation & Paper Presentation’ that will be awarded. Besides, publication of selected papers might also be considered.

Themes and Sub-themes

In the line of the title of the seminar, following are the broad sub-themes

MINING AND REGULATORY REFORMS: EXEGESES AND PROPOSALS

• Analysing the recent slew of regulatory reforms in the mining sector such as the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017, etc.
• Revisiting the National Mineral Policy of 2008.
• The constitutional perspective of mining law regime.
• The aftermath of Shah Commission Report on illegal mining activities.
• Injecting transparency in the mining sector.
• Problems of land acquisition in India vis-à-vis mining sector.
• Corporate Social Responsibility as an obligation for mining companies.
• Is a ban the right way to regulate illegal mining?
• Status of Reconnaissance Permits, Prospecting Licenses and Mining Leases in India.

INTERPLAY BETWEEN MINING & ENVIRONMENTAL REGIME: ISSUES & CHALLENGES

• Analyzing the recent Sustainable Development Framework for mining in India.
• Environmental Clearances and Procedures with respect to the mining.
• International policies and perspective on mining laws: Stockholm to Paris.
• Mine Closure Planning: Reclamation & Rehabilitation including the rights and interests of the marginalized groups.
• Incentives encouraging good mining practices, technology absorption and the exploitation of deep-seated minerals: examining proposals.
• Role and Significance of the courts & tribunals in the Mining law jurisprudence.
• Role and Significance of the civil society organizations in the Mining sector.

INVESTMENT IN MINING SECTOR

• Ownership of mineral wealth and judicial precedents: contesting proprietary rights.
• Allocation of Mineral Resources: Evaluating the e-auction mechanism for granting mining leases.
• The impacts of competitive bidding on the mining sector.
• Evaluating implementation of occupational safety and health guidelines in the mining sector.

Important Dates

• Last Date of Submission of Abstracts: 20 February 2018
• Notification of Acceptance: 25 February 2018
• Last Date of full paper Submission: 25 March 2018
• Last Date of Registration/Payment of Fees: 5 March 2018
• Date of the Seminar: 31 March 2018

Registration Fees

• For Participation only: ₹500/- per participant
• For Paper Presentation: ₹750/- per presenter

Contact

For further details or queries please contact:

DR. M.P. Chengappa, Seminar Coordinator
Email: orgmininglaw.nujs@gmail.com
Contact: (+91) 890210497

Ms. Yuvina Goyal, Student Coordinator
Email: yuvina4586@gmail.com
Contact: (+91) 8054666503

Links

• REGISTRATION FORM – MINING LAW SEMINAR