Lok Sabha Question No. 299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Mining in Forest Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.299

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2015

## Mining in Forest Areas

## 299. SHRI J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the increase in mining activities in the forest areas of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the details of the losses suffered due to such mining in the country; and
- (c) the steps being taken to regulate such mining activities in the forest areas to restrict the damage to the flora and fauna of the country?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (c) The Government of India grants prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 to use forest land for the purpose for various development projects. The Central Government has accorded approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 over 3,866 ha in 30 cases during 2012, 8,450 ha in 42 cases in 2013, 13,043 ha in 58 cases in 2014 and 4,889 in 35 cases during the year 2015 for mining. Forest areas for such activities are approved by the Central Government under Section 2 (ii) of the Forest (conservation)  Act,  1980  with  adequate  environmental  safeguards  and  afforestation measures in lieu of forest land  proposed  to  be utilized  for  developmental  activities. While  considering  the  proposal  under  the  Act,  the  Central  Government inter-alia looks into the following:
- i. whether the forests land proposed to be used for non-forest purpose forms part of a  nature  reserve,  national  park,  wildlife  sanctuary,  biosphere  reserve  or  forms part of the habitat of any endangered or threatened species of flora and fauna or of an area lying severely eroded catchment;
- ii. whether  the  use  of  any  forest  land  is  for  agricultural  purposes  or  for  the rehabilitation of persons displaced from their residences by reason of any river valley or hydro-electric project;
- iii. whether the State Government or the Union territory Administration, as the case may be, has certified that it has considered all other alternatives and that no other
- alternatives  in  the  circumstances  are  feasible  and  that  the  required  area  is  the minimum needed for the purpose;
- iv. whether the State Government or the Union territory Administration, as the case may  be,  undertakes  to  provide  at  its  cost  for  the  acquisition  of  land  of  an equivalent area and afforestation thereof;
- v. whether the per unit requirement of forest land is significantly higher than the national average for similar projects; and
- vi. whether the State Government or the Union territory Administration, as the case may be, before making their recommendation has considered all issues having direct and indirect impact of the diversion of forest land on forest, wildlife and environment.

For  all  purposes,  on  the  request  of  the  State  Government,  the  Central  Government considers the proposal for non-forest use of forest land and accords prior approval as per  the  Rules  and  Guidelines  framed  under  the  Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980 stipulating mitigative measures  in the form  of general, standard and specific conditions.  General/standard  conditions inter-alia include  raising  of  compensatory afforestation  (CA),  imposition  of  Net  Present  Value  (NPV)  to  reduce  the  adverse impact, minimum tree felling, arrangement of alternate fuels, afforestation measures in  the  blanks  within  the  forest  area,  phase  wise  mining  operations,  management  of safety zone, reclamation of quarry, conservation of topsoil, preparation and implementation of Catchment Area Treatment Plan, Muck Disposal Plan, maintenance of  prescribed  Right  of  Way  (RoW),  plantation  of  dwarf  species.  In  addition  to aforementioned general and standard conditions, specific conditions are also stipulated in the  approval  based  on  the  recommendation  made  by  the  Forest  Advisory Committee. In addition to this, the Ministry has also developed criteria for identification of inviolate areas.  The said criteria are being finalized in consultation with the concerned Ministries and other stakeholders.  The pristine forests where the mining  can  cause  irreversible  damage  to  these  forests,  will  be  excluded  from  the mining.

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