Lok Sabha Question No. 1639 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-10
Subject: Identification of No-Mining Zones
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1639

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2025

## Identification of No-Mining Zones

## 1639.     SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

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

- (a) the status of ecologically sensitive areas such as Deomali, Gandhamardan and Niyamgiri in the State of Odisha and whether these regions have been identified as no-mining zones to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable resource use;
- (b)  the  extent  of  Gram  Sabha  consultations  conducted  before  granting  mining  leases  in Scheduled Areas, and whether any violations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) have been reported in the State of Odisha, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether  mining  and  energy  project  clearances  are  being  expedited  through  PRAGATI meetings, potentially bypassing statutory environmental and tribal welfare safeguards, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the measures being taken by the Government to prevent environmental degradation and displacement of forest dwellers and tribal communities due to large-scale mining in the State of Odisha; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  any  legislation  to  declare  ecologically  significant regions as no-mining zones and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) The Government of Odisha vide notification dated 20.03.2023 has declared an area of 18,963.898 ha of the Gandhamardan Hills (Gandhamardan Reserve Forest) between  Bargarh and Balangir districts  of  Odisha  as    the  'Biodiversity  Heritage  Site  of  Odisha'  under  the provisions  of  Section  37  of  Biological  Diversity  Act,  2002  and  Rule  20  (2)  of  Odisha Biodiversity  Rules,  2012  and  as  per  the  criteria  of  the  Guidelines  issued  by  the  Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha. As per Government of Odisha, there is no plan for granting mining lease as per the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 in  these  areas.  The  Government  of  Odisha  has  also  informed  that  the  biodiversity  of Gandhamardan and its medicinal plants including the ancient Nrusinghanath and Harishankar temples existing there are intact on date.

(b) Consultations  with  the  Gram  Sabhas  before  grant  of  mining  lease  in  the  Scheduled Areas is a statutory requirement. As per the Section 4(5) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Gram Sabha is inter- alia empowered to regulate access to community forest resources and can stop any activity, which adversely affects the wildlife, forest and the biodiversity.

(c) The important developmental projects are being monitored through PRAGATI portal, a platform to review programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by the State Governments for its timely implementation by duly following all statutory regulations and environmental safeguards, as applicable.

(d) The  Government  of  India  has  taken  several  measures  to  prevent  environmental degradation and displacement of forest dwellers and tribal communities due to mining with the aim  of  balancing  economic  development  with  ecological  sustainability  and  social  justice. Various Acts and Rules like Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006; Scheduled Tribes  and  Other  Traditional  Forest  Dwellers  (Recognition  of  Forest  Rights)  Act,  2006; Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016; Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in  Land  Acquisition,  Rehabilitation  and  Resettlement  Act,  2013;  Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam Samvardhan)  Adhiniyam,  1980;  and  Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam  Samvardhan)  Rules,  2023  as amended  from  time  to  time,  ensure  the  mitigation  of  adverse  effects  of  mining  on  the environment and displaced communities.

(e) The National Mineral Policy, 2019 emphasizes protection of fragile ecosystems and prohibits mining in ecologically fragile areas. Mining is also prohibited in the Eco-sensitive Zones and within 1 km from the boundary of any Protected Area as per the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 26.04.2023 in the matter of IA 1000 of 2023 in W.P (C) No. 202 of 1995.

****