(a) whether the Government has banned the granting clearance for mining in Western
Ghats and stopped all commercial activities in Ecologically Sensitive Zone;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government also proposes to ban on granting clearance for mining in
Odisha, Jharkhand and other adjoining States to save illegal cutting of forests and maintain
ecological balance;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) & (b): The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has not banned granting of environment
clearance for mining projects in Western Ghats Region. However, there is a moratorium on
consideration of projects including mining projects under the Environment Impact Assessment
(EIA) Notification 2006 in Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri Districts of Maharashtra State, parts of
which fall in Western Ghats Region. The regulation of activities within Ecologically Sensitive
Zones (ESZs) is as per the provisions contained in the respective notifications under which such
ESZs are notified.
(c ) to (e): The cases of environment clearance for mining projects are dealt with as per the
statutory procedure prescribed under the EIA Notification 2006, as amended from time to time.
The environment clearance is granted for a project subject to various conditions and
environmental safeguards, including environment management plan. There is no proposal to ban
granting of environment clearance for mining projects in Odisha, Jharkhand and other adjoining
States.