Lok Sabha Question No. 1543 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-08
Subject: Depletion of Ground Water
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1543

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2015

## Depletion of Ground Water

## 1543.  DR. SHASHI THAROOR :

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

- (a) whether unrestricted riverbed/sand mining has led to the depletion of ground water resources and has also adversely affected the marine-ecosystem of rivers including rivers in the State of Kerala such as Neyyar, Vamanapuram and Kallada;
- (b)   if  so,  whether the Government has conducted a survey/study for assessing the detrimental impact caused by illegal and exploitative mining activities on these riverbeds;
- (c)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)   whether the Government has issued additional guidelines, under the Sustainable Sand and Minor  Mineral  Mining  guidelines,  to  establish  round-the-clock  complaints  cell,  conduct awareness workshops and institute, State-wise Monitoring Centres with participation from the local community to curb illegal mining; and
- (e)   if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a), (b) and (c): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has not conducted  any  study  for  assessing  the  detrimental  impact  caused  by  illegal  and  exploitative mining  activities  in  the  riverbeds  of  Neyyar,  Vamanapuram  and  Kallada  in  the  State  of Kerala.State Governments regulate grant of mining leases and other concessions in respect of all minor minerals including Sand.The enforcement of sand mining leases, controlling and abating illegal sand mining is largely vested with the State Governments.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Environment Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  Notification,  2006,  as  amended  from  time  to  time,  under  the Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  which  deals  with  the  process  to  grant  Environmental Clearance.  The  projects  of  mining  of  minerals  including  sand  require  prior  environmental clearance.  As  per  EIA  Notification  2006,  all  the  Project  Proponents  including  sand  mining projects needs to prepare a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment/Environmental Management  Plan  for  obtaining  Environmental  Clearance.    While  according  environmental clearance, the Expert Appraisal Committee stipulates necessary conditions for safeguarding the environment. The status of compliance of stipulated conditions of the environmental clearances of different projects, including sand mining projects, is monitored by ten Regional Offices of this Ministry in the Country.

(d) and (e): The Ministry has formulated Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines in September,  2015.  The  Guidelines, inter-alia, emphasizes  on  monitoring  plans  to  evaluate  the long-term effect of the mining activities both upstream and downstream of sand extraction sites and streamlining  the  process  of  impact  assessment,  environment  management  plan  and environmental clearance in cluster situation. The Guidelines, inter-alia, also emphasises standard environmental  conditions  for  sand  mining  viz.  Stakeholder  Engagement;  Sustainable  Mining Practices; Identification and Preparation of Mining Site; Monitoring the Mining of Mineral and its  Transportation;  Noise  Management;  Air  Pollution  and  Dust  Management;  Management  of Visual Impact; Bio-Diversity Protection;  Management  of  Instability  and  Erosion;  Waste Management; Pollution Prevention; Protection of Infrastructure; Enhancement of Road Safety; Closure  and  Reclamation  of  Mined  Out  Area;  Health  and  Safety;  Monitoring  the  Impact  of Mining; and Mineral Conservation.

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