Lok Sabha Question No. 2184 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Regulation of Mining activities in Odisha
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2184

ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## REGULATION OF MINING ACTIVITIES IN ODISHA

2184. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps undertaken by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) to monitor and regulate mining operations in view of the significant mining activities in Odisha to ensure compliance with environmental standards and sustainable extraction practices;
- (b)  the  details  of  specific  actions  taken  by  IBM,  such  as  inspections,  audits  or collaborations with local authorities or the State Government to address environmental and regulatory concerns in Odisha's mining sector;
- (c) the details of measurable outcomes or improvements that have been observed in the mining sector in Odisha as a result of these actions; and
- (d) whether the IBM has conducted any recent assessments or audits to evaluate the effectiveness  of  its  regulations  and  the  state  of  environmental  protection  in  Odisha's mining areas and if so, the key findings thereof along with the steps taken to address the issues identified?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (d): As per the provisions of Section 18 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, the Central Government is empowered to make rules interalia for the conservation and systematic development of minerals in India. Accordingly, the Central Government has framed the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017 (MCDR 2017). Under the provisions of MCDR 2017, IBM is authorized to monitor and regulate mining activities in lease areas through inspections.

The details of inspections undertaken by Indian Bureau of Mines in the last two years in the State of Odisha is given below:

|   S No | Year    |   No. of inspections carried out |
|--------|---------|----------------------------------|
|      1 | 2022-23 |                              132 |
|      2 | 2023-24 |                              145 |

The standards and permissible limits of all pollutants, toxins and noise are notified by the concerned authorities under the provisions of the relevant laws for the time being in force. The lease holders are mandated to comply with the prescribed norms notified by relevant authorities.

As  part  of  grant  of  Environmental  Clearance,  the  prospective  lessees  carry  out Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and submit the Environment Management Plan (EMP) based on scientific study by taking into consideration of likely the impact of project activity  on  the  baseline  environment.  The  mining  lease  holders  are  also  required  to implement the environmental mitigation  measures  as  approved  during grant of Environmental Clearance. The compliance of the various environmental parameters by the lease holders is monitored and enforced by the respective State Pollution Control Boards.

The details of the violations of the provisions of the MCDR pointed out by IBM and the status of compliance thereof during the last two years in Odisha is given below:

|   S No | Year     | No. of mines where violations were pointed out   |   No. of mines which complied with violations |   No. of mines where show cause notice was issued |   No. of mines where violations where complied with after show cause notice |
|--------|----------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | 2022- 23 | 64                                               |                                            54 |                                                10 |                                                                          10 |
|      2 | 2023- 24 | 70*                                              |                                            51 |                                                18 |                                                                          18 |

Due to the effective monitoring by IBM, all the violations of the provisions of MCDR 2017 during 2022-23 and 2023-24 were resolved.

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