(a) whether the Government has taken note that large area of forest land diverted for mining purposes
has resulted in ecological balance in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and current year, State/UT-wise including Karnataka; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to stop diversion of forest land for mining purposes?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) & (b) Central Government during last three years and current year (1.1.2010 to 30.11.2013) accorded 298
approvals under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of 56221.54 hectare of Forest land for mining
purposes. The details of forest land diverted for mining in the country during last three years state wise is enclosed
as Annexure A.
To mitigate impacts of diversion of forest land for mining projects on ecology and environment, Central Government
while according approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 stipulates appropriate conditions, such as
creation and maintenance of compensatory Afforestation, implementation of wildlife conservation plan and
realization of Net Present Value(NPV) of the diverted forest land from the user agency for conservation,
protection and development of forests and wildlife.
(c) To facilitate scrutiny of the proposals seeking prior approval of the Central Government under the Forest
(Conservation) Act, 1980 in an effective manner, an elaborate institutional mechanism, both at the Central as
well as State/Union Territory Governments level has been set up. The proposals seeking diversion of forest
land for mining projects are examined most carefully and only those proposals where diversion of forest land
is bare minimum and unavoidable are accepted by the Central Government.