(a) Whether the Government is aware of excessive mining being carried out at certain places across the country;
(b) If so, the details of the proposed action plan to reduce such mining activities across the country including Delhi;
(c) Whether some people have lost their land/home due to excessive mining; and
(d) If so, the details thereof along with compensation paid to them?
THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Cases of mining in excess of proposals approved in mining plan/review of mining plan have been reported by Indian Bureau of Mines (a subordinate office under Ministry of Mines). The year-wise, State-wise details during the last four years and measures taken to tackle the problem are given in Annexure-I.
(c) No such information is maintained in Ministry of Mines.
(d) Does not arise in view of reply furnished at item (c) above.
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Annexure-I
The year-wise, State-wise details during last four years are furnished in the table given below:
Sl No State Year wise Number of Cases
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
1 Rajasthan 00 00 03
2 Tamil Nadu 02 00 01
3 Andhra Pradesh 01 01 01
4 Jammu and Kashmir 03 01 10
5 Gujarat 07 07 02
6 Telangana 01 00 00
7 Madhya Pradesh 11 12 10
Total 25 21 27
The Government has already taken adequate measures to reduce excessive mining activities through various statutory provisions, summary of which is furnished below:
A. MMDR Act, 1957
(1) Section 4A: Provisions for termination of Prospecting Licences or Mining Leases.
(2) Section 21: Penalties for contravention of provisions for imprisonment upto five years and fine upto five lakh Rupees per hectare of the area.
(3) Section 23C: State Government is empowered to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals.
B. Minerals (other than atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016
(1) Rule 54 has Provision for Penalty for contravention of provisions of Rules including excessive production.
C. Mineral Conservation and Development Rules 2017
(1) Rule 62: Penalty for contravention of provisions of Rules.
Further, The lessee is obliged to carry our mining operations in accordance with approved document as per Rule 13 of Minerals other than atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016 and Rule 11 of MCDR 2017. Thus, a mining plan/review of mining plan is essential for grant of mining lease and for carrying out mining operation for major minerals. Monitoring of the proposals approved in Mining Plan/Review of Mining Plan is carried out through MCDR inspection & reconciliation with data filed in statutory returns by the lessee. In case of contravention of the provisions the mining operations are suspended as per Rule 11(2) of MCDR 2017. Also prosecutions are launched and recommended for termination of lease for non-compliance.
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