Centre defers forest clearance to mining projects in Assam, Madhya Pradesh

The Centre has deferred forest clearance to mining projects on the reserve forest lands of Assam and Madhya Pradesh, citing concerns over the impact on wildlife and environmental violations.

According to the minutes of a meeting of the Union Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee, the ministry has sought clarifications on violations from the states and asked them to submit wildlife mitigation plans.

For the diversion of forest land for non-forestry projects, a state government has to take the nod of the Environment Ministry.

In Assam, the state government had proposed the diversion of more than 5 hectares of forest land for a stone mining project. However, the Forest Advisory Committee was informed that the proposed mining area is on the southern boundary of the Karbi-Anglong elephant reserve.

“Opening of small mines in the area will have impacts on the wildlife, including the elephants, which may increase human-wildlife conflicts. Therefore, it is desirable that a comprehensive wildlife management plan for the landscape keeping in view the impact of existing and proposed mines in the area needs to be prepared and submitted to the Environment Ministry,” the committee said.

The committee further noted that several stone quarry-mining proposals have been proposed in various districts of Assam.

“Considering small mining leases in isolation may underestimate the collective impacts resulting from land degradation, biodiversity loss, and habitat destruction, besides cumulative socioeconomic impacts of such activities. Opening of small sporadic mines may also make it difficult to implement effective management and mitigation strategies,” the committee noted.

In Madhya Pradesh, the state government sought the diversion of 10 hectares of reserve forest for mining of Pyrophilite and Diaspore-two minerals rubber, paint, rubber tires, tiles, and fire bricks. The state government told the advisory committee that these minerals are only found in the forested areas of the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, particularly in select forest zones of Tikamgarh and Chhatarpur districts.

However, for the transportation of minerals the state government informed the committee that an already existing semimetal road will be used to transport the mined minerals.

Centre has asked the state government to submit permission for the construction of a semimetal road and in case nod of Centre was not taken it has to submit a report on action taken over the violation. It has also asked if the state government has conducted a study to ascertain the availability of minerals in Madhya Pradesh.

“The state government shall clarify the legal status of the existing semi-metal road. If the road is in forest land, the details of approval if any obtained from the central government needs to be submitted. In case the approval is not obtained, the status of violation and the action taken in the matter be reported,” the minutes of the meeting said.