Lok Sabha Question No. 2688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Destruction of Forest Area
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Jual Oram

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2688

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## Destruction of Forest Area

## 2688. SHRI JUAL ORAM:

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

- (a) the total number of sal trees felled and the total hectares of forest land destroyed in the  Joda  and  Bonai  sector  of  Keonjhar  and  Sundargarh  districts  of  Odisha  as  a result of mining activities during the last three years, mine-wise; and
- (b) the steps taken by the mine owners and companies for compensatory afforestation in such areas?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) During  the  last  three  years  (2016-2019),1766.74  hectare  of  forest  areas  has  been approved  for  mining  purposes  under  Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980  and  33416 number of Sal trees have been enumerated for removal under such mining proposals in Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts of Odisha including Joda and Bonai sector.
- (b) Compensatory Afforestation (CA) is a mandatory requirement and mitigation measure against  every  proposal  for  which  forest  area  is  approved  for  non-forestry  purpose including mining activity. Such afforestation on equivalent non forest land (NFL)/double  degraded  forest  land  is  ensured  to  minimize  any  possible  impact  of non-forestry use of forest land. During the last three years 2628.06 hectare land (with plantation  of  more  than  26,28,060  trees)  has  been  stipulated  for  CA  against  the approvals for mining in forest areas in Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts of Odisha.

In  case of approved mining proposals, a number of mitigation measures such as, implementation of Wildlife Conservation Plan, Soil Conservation Plan, minimum tree  felling,  phase  wise  mining  operations,  stabilization  of  overburdens,  concurrent reclamation of mined out areas, maintenance of safety zone/green belt, etc. on case to case basis, are also taken up by user agencies and state Governments.

Further,  in  case  of  mining  projects,  following  guidelines  and  conditions stipulated  in  approvals  granted  under  the  Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980,  by  the Central Government provide for rehabilitation or conservation of affected flora and fauna:

- (i) Mining  operations  in  forest  areas  are  to  be  carried  out  as  per  the  approved Mining  Plan  and  Progressive  Mine  Closure  Plan  which  stipulates  that  after cessation of mining activities, forest area is rehabilitated/reclaimed technically and biologically, as per the provisions of Mining Plan, before it is handed over back to the Forest Department.
- (ii) Safety Zone in the form of a 7.5 meters wide strip all along the inner boundary of mining lease is to be maintained as green belt with dense canopy cover in the area.  No mining is allowed in the safety zone and regeneration is allowed to come up in this area under the supervision of the State Forest Department.
- (iii) No mining is allowed in the buffer of 250 meters around the water bodies such as wetlands, rivers, lakes, etc.
- (iv) Storage  of  top  soil  generated  during  the  mining  operations  is  to  be  stored  at designated place in the mining lease for its subsequent use in reclamation of mined out areas.
- (v) Central Government vide its guidelines dated 17.01.2020, issued in pursuance of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  order  dated  8.01.2020  has  instructed  all  State Governments/Union  Territories Administrations to ensure re-grassing the mining area, and any other areas which may have been disturbed due to mining activities and restore the land to a condition which is fit for growth of fodder, flora, fauna, etc.

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