March 15, 2022
Abir Ranjan Biswas makes a Special Mention on the need for parliamentary scrutiny regarding allowing mining in ‘No-Go’ areas
Sir, my Special Mention is on ‘Need for Parliamentary scrutiny on the Policy regarding Mining in no-go areas.’ In 2010, a study was done by Forest Survey of India that laid down certain parameters to determine whether areas should be opened to mining or not. Some areas were recognized as ‘No-go areas’ and any clearances granted to them were revoked. This policy was never notified officially but was followed de facto. However, the policy was eventually diluted and then abandoned entirely The current situation is that there is a lack of policy to determine which of the earlier designated no-go areas may or may not be mined. Some areas are recommended for mining at the executive level through Office Memoranda. Ministries coordinate among themselves. However, the clearance process keeps getting delayed even after the coal blocks have been auctioned. This delay proves harmful to the forests because the mining companies that win the auction work to illegally reduce the forest density, or acquire forest land and designate it as private land. Due to the environmental clearances being regulated through Office Memoranda, parliamentary scrutiny is completely skipped. This should ideally happen through Acts or rules and the same should be laid before the Parliament. There is a need for the Central Government to provide a clear policy regarding mining in no-go areas. The policy should be brought as an Act or rules, and should be subjected to parliamentary scrutiny. Further, the Ministry should provide for a policy for allocation of projects in no-go areas and a procedure for clearance of the allocated blocks.
