(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to assess the damage caused to the environment on account of illegal mining in Uttar Pradesh particularly in Bundelkhand;
(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(c) whether any report has been sought from Uttar Pradesh in this regard, if so, the details and response received thereon; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to check illegal mining and damage to the environment in Uttar Pradesh?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)
(a) to (d): The steps taken by the Ministry to ensure environmental stability and to offset the losses caused to environment due to illegal mining inter-alia include the notification of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. All the projects of mining of minerals require prior Environmental Clearance. The Environmental Clearance is granted after consideration of various aspects related to flora, fauna, air, water, land, environmental health aspects etc. Strict conditions are prescribed to the mining projects.
Further, with a view to promote sustainable sand mining in the States, the Government has delegated, vide notification dated 15.01.2016, the Authority of Environmental Clearance up to 5 hectare 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. A District Expert Appraisal Committee (DEAC) has also been constituted under the chairmanship of the Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department to assist the DEIAA. The Ministry has also notified the constitution of DEIAA and DEAC, vide Notification SO No. 190 (E) dated 20.01.2016.
Section 23 (C) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, as amended in 1999, authorizes State Government to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals. As per information received, there are four mine leases for river sand/moram mining in Bundelkhand for which the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has granted Environment Clearance. The MoEF&CC has received a complaint regarding illegal sand mining in Bundelkhand which has been examined by the Regional Office of the MoEF&CC at Lucknow. Based on the site inspection report, an order under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 was issued vide dated 4th November 2015 to the Government of Uttar Pradesh directing them to immediately stop the violation of environmental norms on the site.
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