Question : Amendments in National Mineral Policy

(a) whether district level authorities have been involved in the process of granting environmental clearances in minor mineral base cases;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is a fact that some State Governments have raised questions on the ambiguity of the role of district level authorities and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Union Government is contemplating to make necessary changes in the National Mineral Policy to clear the doubts of the State Governments and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINES AND COAL (SHRI HARIBHAI PARTHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)
(a) and (b): Yes, Madam. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) vide notification dated 15.01.2016, has delegated the Authority of Environmental Clearance up to 5 hectares of individual mining lease of minor minerals and 25 hectares in clusters to the District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) headed by the District Magistrate/ District Collector. The MoEFCC has also notified the constitution of DEIAA and District Expert Appraisal Committee (DEAC) vide notification SO No. 190 (E) dated 20.01.2016. The MoEFCC has further clarified the provisions of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 and issued the amendments in the EIA Notification, 2006 on 01.07.2016 for mining of minor minerals, in situation of a large number of leases or quarry licenses of very small size in contiguous area.
(c): As per information made available by the MoEFCC, no questions have been raised by the State Governments in this regard.

(d): Does not arise in view of the reply given to (c) above.

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