Lok Sabha Question No. 2687 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Mining in Forest Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Anantkumar  Hegde

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2687 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## Mining in Forest Areas

## 2687. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any law to prevent mining in dense forest areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government provides rehabilitation or conservation programme for the affected flora and fauna of the forest area after mining; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) While considering proposals for use of forest land for non-forestry purposes under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Central Government adequately stipulates general as well as project specific safeguards to minimize the impact on  surrounding flora and fauna. Such safeguards include allowing non-forest use of barest minimum forest area, implementation  of  Wildlife  Conservation  Plan,  Soil  Conservation  Plan,  minimum  tree felling,  Compensatory  Afforestation,  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.

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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