By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) was on Friday held a webinar on “Conducive Environment and Forest Regime for Growth of Mining Sector”, in which Sunil Duggal, President, FIMI, R.P. Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sisir Kumar Ratho, Additional Director General of Forests (FC), MOEFCC, Sharath Kumar Pallerla, Scientist ‘F’, IA (Policy) and Member Secretary EAC (non-coal), MOEFCC and R.L Mohanty, Vice President, FIMI, Shantesh Gureddi, Vice President, FIMI and R.K. Sharma, Secretary General, FIMI and others joined through video conference.
While addressing the webinar , FIMI President Sunil Duggal said India is faced with the complex challenge of fulfilling the developmental needs of its 1.35 billion population, while also protecting its environment, forest and natural ecosystems. Most of the raw materials for sustaining good living standards, industrial and economic growth come from mining. But mining also has a significant ecological footprint. In recent years, the Government has also laid out stricter norms in environment, forest conservation for improved monitoring and reporting framework for the mining industry.
“I express my gratitude to Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for taking various progressive initiatives to achieve “Atmanirbhar Bharat” by introducing measures for encouraging mining industry. The Indian mining industry has adopted sustainability as a core business principle and taken proactive steps towards environment and forest protection. However, the process of grant of EC, FC and wildlife clearances for mining projects is cumbersome and takes 3 to 5 years on an average. Thus, it is required to encourage streamlining the regulatory processes to facilitate timely approvals for ‘ease of doing mining’ in self-reliant India,” Duggal said.
“ It is cognizant that the need for environmental protection and responsive development in India are interconnected. The need for transparency, faster approvals and public trust is of paramount importance. Indian Mining Industry follows numerous policies, acts and legislations to reduce the environmental impact. Ministry of Mines has also laid down specific rules and regulations mentioned in Sustainable development framework in order to ensure environmental integrity specific to mining operations. Despite these facts, mining industry battles a tedious process of environment and forest clearance for smooth mining operations,” the FIMI President said.
For the mining industry, Environmental Impact Assessment is the basic requirement for commission of mining activity. However, the mining industry faces numerous obstacles for completion of the process such as during Public hearing, time consuming regional studies and subjudice matters in Courts and allied approvals from various authorities, he said.
Minerals are site specific in nature and majority of the deposits happen to be in forest areas. Thus, a balance is necessary between mineral development and conservation of forest & biodiversity for obtaining forest clearance, mining projects faces huge delays such as in tree enumeration, site visit, settlement of the rights under Forest Rights Act, 2006 etc. A suitable mechanism should be developed to expedite the FC process and improve monitoring at the ground level, he said.
“I would like to point out a concern that if clearances from various departments for mining takes 3 to 5 years to obtain, how the lessee will bear the burden? Not only Environment and Forest Clearance, there are other clearances from State Pollution Control Board, Central Ground Water Authority, National Board of Wildlife and various departments required before start of mining. These delays in permits and clearances put extra burden on mining industry.MOEFCC has already commenced single window system for grant of environment and forest clearances, through Parivesh portal. The Ministry has been continuously reviewing and streamlining the appraisal process and hope that the unified system for EC, FC and Wildlife clearance be initiated for smooth mining operation,” he said.
Recently, Ministry of Mines in consultation with MOEFCC has introduced preembedded clearances for the auction for mineral blocks on a pilot scale. State Governments can apply for obtaining EC, FC as project proponent prior to auction of a block and will transfer the clearances to the allottee. It will open a horizon for hassle-free grant of mining leases in India and boost mineral production and supply in the country. Hence, State Govts. should adopt proactive measures for such mineral blocks offered for auction in a time bound manner, he said.
“ I hope this online event will help in showcasing the issues faced and provide possible solutions, strategies to develop a conducive environment and forest regime for the mining industry. I strongly believe that the deliberations during this event will be lively and interactive and it will influence and create capacity for conducive environment and forest regime for the growth of mining sector. With these words, I once again welcome you all to the online event on Conducive Environment and Forest Regime for Growth of Mining Sector and wish all the very best, Duggal added.
