(a) whether a large area of forest land has been diverted for mining purposes resulting
in ecological imbalance in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year, State/
UT-wise including Karnataka ; and
(c) the steps taken by Government to stop diversion of forest land for mining purposes
in the country?
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 31.7.13)
accorded 282 approvals under Forest (Conservation)Act, 1980 for diversion of 52427.40 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.