Lok Sabha Question No. 2674 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Pollution in Mining Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Chandrani Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2674

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## Pollution in Mining Areas

## 2674. MS. CHANDRANI MURMU:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the local people around the mining areas are suffering from different chronic diseases due to pollution and the mine owners/companies are not taking adequate steps to check pollution;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to control pollution in mining areas and take action against such mine owners/companies?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

## (a) to (c)

Mining activities poses risk to human health due to emission of dust particles and as industry is  categorized  as  Red  Category  as  per  Industrial  sector  categorization  activities  made  by Central Pollution Control Board based on pollution potential. Mining activities are regulated by State Pollution Control Boards/ Committees for control of pollution under the provision of The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Mining activity within the mining lease area are regulated by Indian Bureau of Mines and Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) is mandated to take care of mine  safety  issues  and  matters  pertaining  to  occupational  safety,  health  and  welfare  of persons employed in mines and prescribes method of mining so that the risk of accident and disease in and around mine is controlled.

All mining activities are required to take environmental clearance as per the provision of EIA Notification  2006,  amended  from  time  to  time,  wherein  environmental  management  plan proposed  by  the  mine  owners  is  appraised  based  on  the  predicted  impacton  environment arising due  to proposed  mining  activity. Precautionary and preventive measures  are stipulatedas  clearance  condition,  for  compliance  by  the  mine  owners  such  as  plantationare mandatory  along  the  periphery  of  mining  area  to  contain  and  control  dispersion  of  dust beyond the mining area boundary. Further, mines are directed to take all necessary preventive measures  for  control  of  dust  particles  while  transportation  of  minerals  through  covered vehicles  and  also  to  use  closed  conveyor  system,  wherever  such  system  is  technoeconomically feasible.

Compliance of environmental conditions imposed is monitored and appropriate action within the provision of Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 is initiated, as applicable. Complaint regarding impact of pollution due to mining activity is investigated by State Pollution Control Board/Committee  and  appropriate  action  is  taken  within  the  provisions  of  the  Water (Prevention  &  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  and  The  Air  (Prevention  &  Control  of Pollution) Act, 1981.

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