District Collector can now grant Environmental Clearance for sustainable sand mining and mining of minor minerals
Q. District Collector can now grant Environmental Clearance for sustainable sand mining and mining of minor minerals- Published on 21 Jan 16a. State governments
b. Municipal corporations and Gram Panchayats
c. Gram Sabha
d. District Collectors
ANSWER: District Collectors
The Government has announced that the process of granting Environmental Clearance for sustainable sand mining and mining of minor minerals has been decentralized. The Ministry has created District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) for proper monitoring of sand mining. In consultation with the State governments, the Ministry has also prepared guidelines for sustainable sand mining. For the first time, Environmental Clearance power of the Ministry is being delegated at District level Committee headed by District Magistrate or District Collector for mining lease area upto 5ha for individual lease and 25ha in cluster. Four-member District Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) is responsible for grant of environmental clearance for Category ‘B2’ Projects for mining of minor minerals, for all the districts in the country. The Chairperson of DEIAA will be District Magistrate or District Collector and the Member Secretary will be Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Officer. The other two members are DFO and Expert to be nominated by Divisional Commissioner. (Major minerals are those specified in the Schedule appended in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the common major minerals are calcite, clay, coal, quartz, etc. Minor minerals are those specified in the Schedule appended in minor mineral concession rules and the common minor minerals are limestone, decorative stones, etc.) The power of granting environmental clearances for leases up to five hectares have been delegated to district committees for the first time, among other steps, including the monitoring of mined-out material through information-technology-enabled services.
