Lok Sabha Question No. 3632 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Acquiring Land for Mines
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3632

ANSWERED ON 22.03.2023

## ACQUIRING LAND FOR MINES

†3632. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

(a)  the  criteria  set  by  the  Government  to  acquire  land  for  any  mine  or  other Government work;

(b)  whether  these  criteria  have  been  taken  into  account  by  the  Government  while acquiring the land of the farmers of Mauji Hewati village under Ramtek Parliamentary Constituency of Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the salient features of the Real Estate Act, 2013;

(d) whether the Government has made payment of compensation amount to these affected farmers and villages under the Real Estate Act, 2013 and if so, the details thereof and if not, the time by when and if so, the reasons therefor;

(e)  the  time  by  which  the  payment  of  compensation  is  likely  to  be  made  by  the Government to the affected farmers and villagers under the Real Estate Act, 2013; and

(f) the time since when this matter is under the consideration of the Government and the steps taken by the Government to make payment of the compensation and grant immediately to the affected farmers and villagers?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a): There is no provision in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 [MMDR Act, 1957] for acquiring land for any mine. As per the provisions of the  MMDR  Act,  1957  and  rules  made  thereunder,  the  State  Governments  are empowered to  grant  the  mineral  concessions  for  the  minerals  located  within  their respective boundaries. Land required for mining purpose is acquired either through voluntary agreement between the land owner and the prospective lessee or under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation And Resettlement Act, 2013. Further, for mining of coal by Government companies land can also be acquired under Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957.

(b):  As  per  the  information  provided  by  the  Government  of  Maharashtra,  1596 hectare  land  including  6.33  hectare  Gaothan  land  of  Hewati  village  has  been acquired by Western Coalfields Limited under Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 in respect of Makardhokra-III opencast project.

(c): The Ministry of Mines does not administer any Act related to Real Estate.

(d) to (f): As per the information provided by the Government of Maharashtra, for the Makardhokra-III project, out of 1596 hectare total acquired land, there exists 1391.7 hectare tenancy land of affected farmers for  which  land  compensation  and Rehabilitation and Resettlement benefits in respect of 1385.37 hectare of agricultural land  have  been  approved.  Government  of  Maharashtra  has  also  informed  that  till now,  land  compensation  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  336  Crore  and  1089  numbers  of employment  /  monetary  compensation  have  been  disbursed.  However,  for  6.33 hectare  abadi  land,  the  land  compensation  and  Rehabilitation  and  Resettlement benefits are yet to be settled.

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