The Environment Ministry has created a separate category on its portal to expedite clearances for mining of critical minerals. Mining is classified as a non-forestry activity, and its impact on forests and wildlife is assessed before approval. Under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, mining in forest land requires.
Prior approval from the Central Government. However, a separate category has been created in PARIVESH 2.0 for processing forest clearance proposals related to the mining of critical minerals. The ministry emphasized that critical and strategic minerals are essential for the growth of sectors such as telecommunications.
The ministry directed that all proposals for mining of critical and strategic minerals transport, defense, and high-tech electronics. be considered on a priority basis by Expert Appraisal Committees at both central and state levels, and all clearances be issued expeditiously. The ministry has also waived the requirement for.
Environmental clearance for linear projects involving the extraction of more than 20,000 cubic metres of earth Environment Ministry Introduces Separate Category to Expedite Mining Clearances In a strategic move to streamline environmental Act, 1980, remain applicable, this categorization clearances for mining projects, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate.
Change (MoEFCC) has established a distinct category for “Mining of Mineral Oil” on its PARIVESH portal. This initiative aims to facilitate hydrocarbon exploration and production activities by simplifying the forest clearance process specific to the oil and gas sector that the procedures for hydrocarbon projects are more aligned with.
Rationale Behind the New Category
The oil and gas industry’s operations differ significantly from conventional mining activities. Recognizing this, the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) aims to reduce stakeholders application process more intuitive for advocated for a tailored approach to address the unique challenges faced by the sector. The MoEFCC’s response was to create a separate classification, ensuring .
Key Features of the Initiative
- Dedicated Classification: The “Mining of Mineral Oil” category allows for distinct accounting procedures under Forest Conservation their specific operational requirements and analysis of hydrocarbon projects, differentiating them from traditional mining operations The Form-A for forest clearance has been adapted to better suit the terminologies and processes While the core prevalent in the oil and gas sector, making.
Implications for the Mining Sector
This development is part of a broader effort by the government to enhance the efficiency of environmental clearances. In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, delays in project approvals have been attributed to the time-consuming preparation of Wildlife Management Plans (WMPs) To address this, the MoEFCC.
lntroduced a policy allowing project proponents to deposit a lump sum—2% of the project cost for WMPs and 0.5% for Soil and Moisture Conservation Plans—into the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) account. This measure aims to mitigate delays without compromising environmental safeguards.
Balancing Development and Conservation
While these initiatives are designed to accelerate project implementation and boost economic growth, they also raise concerns among environmentalists. Critics argue that fast-tracking clearances might compromise environmental assessments and public consultations. However, the MoEFCC maintains that these measures.
Streamlined Procedures: Intended to balance developmental needs with ecological preservation, ensuring that projects proceed without unnecessary delays while still adhering to environmental norms The creation of a separate category for hydrocarbon projects signifies the government’s commitment to facilitating sector-specific needs within environmental.
By tailoring processes to the unique requirements of different industries, the clearance framework MoEFCC aims to promote sustainable development project proponents to deposit a lump sum while compromise environmental assessments and maintaining ecological integrity bureaucratic hurdles, thereby has expediting project approvals.
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