Lok Sabha Question No. 3121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Mining in Protected Forest Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3121 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021

## Mining in Protected Forest Areas

## 3121.   SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

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

- (a) whether there is a prohibition on mining activities in protected forest areas;
- (b) if so, the details of circulars/orders issued by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether  mining  activities  are  being  carried  out  in  protected  forest  areas  of  many States across the country and if so, the details of such cases including those reported from Rajasthan;
- (d) whether the Government has granted any permission for carrying out mining activities in protected forest areas; and
- (e) if so, the legal basis of the same along with State-wise details of such cases during the last ten years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (e) As  per  the  order  of  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  dated  04.08.2006  in  the  Writ Petition (C) no. 202/1995 the permission for mining can not be granted inside any National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary.

However, the mining activities can be permitted in Protected Forest (PF) Areas by the concerned State Government subject to prior approval of Central Government under the provisions of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

The  State/UT  wise  details  of  such  cases  approved  during  last  10  years  under Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980  for  mining  in  forest  areas  (including  Protected Forest Areas) is annexed.

***

| Category : Mining   | Category : Mining   | During the Period : 01.04.2011 to 31.03.2021 Area Approved (in Ha.)   |
|---------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.              | State / UT          | During the Period : 01.04.2011 to 31.03.2021 Area Approved (in Ha.)   |
| 1                   | Andaman and Nicobar | 3.13                                                                  |
| 2                   | Andhra Pradesh      | 2161.53                                                               |
| 3                   | Assam               | 427.50                                                                |
| 4                   | Chhattisgarh        | 7086.85                                                               |
| 5                   | Goa                 | 17.31                                                                 |
| 7                   | Himachal Pradesh    | 242.97                                                                |
| 8                   | Jharkhand           | 3440.82                                                               |
| 9                   | Karnataka           | 155.79                                                                |
| 10                  | Madhya Pradesh      | 6135.48                                                               |
| 11                  | Maharashtra         | 562.85                                                                |
| 12                  | Meghalaya           | 266.07                                                                |
| 13                  | Orissa              | 14158.34                                                              |
| 14                  | Rajasthan           | 145.45                                                                |
| 15                  | Tamil Nadu          | 16.72                                                                 |
| 16                  | Telangana           | 3699.90                                                               |
| 17                  | Tripura             | 28.07                                                                 |
| 18                  | Uttarakhand         | 23.75                                                                 |
| 19                  | West Bengal         | 274.17                                                                |
| Total               | Total               | 38846.7                                                               |