Lok Sabha Question No. 4278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Permission for Mining in 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. 4278

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2023

## Permission for Mining in Forest Areas

## 4278.  SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

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

- (a) whether  the  State  Government  of  Rajasthan  has  sought  any  permission  from  the Union Government for mining and other activities in the forest areas of the State;
- (b) if so, the details of such cases submitted by the State Government during the last three years;
- (c) the details of such cases lying pending with the Government for approval;
- (d) whether the Government has received any complaint regarding carrying out mining and other activities in the forest areas of Rajasthan without obtaining approval from the Union Government; and
- (e) if so, the details of the actions taken by the Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (c) The  proposals  for  diversion of forest land for non-forestry purpose  are processed as per the provisions of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which is a continuous  process.  The  proposals  received  from  the  States/UTs  for  various non-forestry  purposes  are  examined  by  the  Central  Government  for  their completeness and decision is taken as per extant Rules and guidelines on case to case basis.

During  the  last  three  years  (2019-20  to  2021-22)  a  total  number  of  118 proposals  of  mining  and  other  activities  were  received  from  the  State  of Rajasthan, out of which 54 have been accorded final approval and 45 have been accorded "In-principle/Stage-I approval. Category wise detail of 118 proposals is annexed at Annexure.

- (d)& (e) The  'land'  is  a  subject  matter  of  State  Government.  The  forest  areas  and  the legal boundaries thereof are determined and maintained by the concerned State. The public grievances/representations/complaints as received by Central Government from time to time are sent to the concerned State Government/UT administration for taking necessary action as per the extant rules and guidelines.

***

| Annexure                                                                     | Annexure            | Annexure                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Annuxure referred to in the reply asked By Shri Hanuman Beniwal Areas' State | :- Rajasthan        | due for reply on 27.03.2023 During the period :- 01.04.2019 to 31.03.2022 |
| S. No.                                                                       | Category            | Total Proposal received at GoI level                                      |
| 1                                                                            | Approach Access     | 2                                                                         |
| 2                                                                            | Defence             | 4                                                                         |
| 3                                                                            | Dispensary/Hospital | 2                                                                         |
| 4                                                                            | Drinking Water      | 7                                                                         |
| 5                                                                            | Irrigation          | 6                                                                         |
| 6                                                                            | Mining              | 2                                                                         |
| 7                                                                            | Optical Fibre Cable | 4                                                                         |
| 8                                                                            | Others              | 6                                                                         |
| 9                                                                            | Pipeline            | 4                                                                         |
| 10                                                                           | Railway             | 1                                                                         |
| 11                                                                           | Road                | 53                                                                        |
| 12                                                                           | Sub Station         | 1                                                                         |
| 13                                                                           | Transmission Line   | 26                                                                        |
| Grand Total                                                                  | Grand Total         | 118                                                                       |