Lok Sabha Question No. 120 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Forest Clearance for Critical Mineral Extraction
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Balabhadra Majhi, Shri Nalin Soren

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 120 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## Forest Clearance for Critical Mineral Extraction

*120 .  SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

SHRI NALIN SOREN:

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

- (a) the provisions made by the Government to prevent misuse of the simplified clearance process for mining of critical minerals in the forest areas of the country particularly in the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand including Dumka Lok Sabha Constituency, Rajasthan including Bhiwani-Mahendragarh regions and Madhya Pradesh  particularly  in  Sidhi,  Lok  Sabha  Constituency  along  with  the  third-party mechanisms set up to monitor compliance;
- (b) the reasons behind further simplification of forest clearances for extraction of critical minerals  along  with  the  studies  conducted  to  assess  the  environmental  impact  on biodiversity in these areas;
- (c) whether  the Government  has  finalized the agencies or independent institutions responsible  for  carrying  out  verification  of  compensatory  afforestation  involving critical mineral mining; and
- (d) if so, the arrangements made to ensure the ecological quality of the reclaimed/replanted areas/lands?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 120 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8.12.2025 ON 'FOREST CLEARANCE FOR CRITICAL MINERAL EXTRACTION' BY SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI AND SHRI NALIN SOREN

(a) & (b) Critical minerals are vital for clean-energy technologies, electronics, defence preparedness,  and  the  nation's  economic  security.  Mining  of  such  minerals  in  forest  areas follows the clearance processes as provided under the applicable statutes to strike a balance between nation's strategic needs with ecological safeguards. The process of forest clearance involves the same  procedures  as prescribed for non-critical minerals, which  include requirements for  Compensatory  Afforestation  (CA),  payment  of Net Present  Value  (NPV), and implementation of site-specific mitigation measures. Likewise, provisions of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, as amended, mandates comprehensive appraisal  by the concerned sectoral  Expert Appraisal  Committee (EAC)/State  Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and preparation  of corresponding Environment  Management Plan  involving  environmental  impact  assessments,  covering  biodiversity,  ecosystems,  and other  ecological  parameters  while  granting  environment  clearance.  The  project  proponents need to  ensure  that  adequate  financial  and  other  resources  are  earmarked  for  the  effective implementation of the Environment Management Plan.

(c) & (d) The monitoring of clearances  granted  by  the  Ministry  for  mining,  including critical  minerals  in  forest  areas,  is  well-defined  and  undertaken  by  State/UT  agencies  and departments.  The monitoring  of such proposals is also assigned to Regional Offices  of the Ministry. As per Ministry' notification dated 29.08.2025, compliance monitoring of conditions  stipulated  in  the  approvals  or  clearances  granted  by  the  Ministry  may  also  be verified through registered environment auditors.

Further,  for  compensatory  afforestation,  monitoring  of  plantations  is  carried  out  as  per  the procedures laid down in the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016 and its Rules by  the  National  and  State  CAMPA  Authorities  ensuring  transparency,  accountability,  and effective oversight.

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