Draft Notification on Environment Clearance for sustainable sand mining and mining of minor minerals
The government has come up with a draft notification for a new sustainable sand and minor mineral mining policy. It specifies where mining should be allowed or prohibited based on sustainability guidelines and monitoring of resources using scientific tools. From January 1, 2016, the new law and guidelines on sustainable sand and minor mineral mining will be applicable. The new policy will check illegal mining and allow serious, legitimate players to remain in business. The draft policy allows environment clearances for up to five hectare of mine lease area for sand and minor minerals to be done at the district level. States will give clearances for mine lease areas up to 50 hectares, while the Centre would give permissions for areas larger than 50 hectares.