Environment ministry relaxes expansion norms for certain mines - Hindustan Times

The Union environment ministry has relaxed the environmental norms for the expansion of certain iron, manganese, bauxite, and limestone mines

The Union environment ministry has relaxed the environmental norms for the expansion of certain iron, manganese, bauxite, and limestone mines. According to an office memorandum (OM) issued on October 20, expansion of up to 20% capacity for mines of these four minerals with a 5-star rating can be allowed only based on public consultation.

The OM said the ministry of mines and other stakeholders sent representations to the environment ministry to simplify the procedure for issuing environmental clearance for these minerals. The request was referred to the joint expert appraisal committee (coal and non-coal mining sector) of the environment ministry. The panel decided that mines with a 5-star rating, which had been granted environmental clearance based on a public hearing, can expand their capacity by up to 20%. They can do so after conducting a public consultation.

The OM published on the environment ministry’s Parivesh website said public consultation shall be conducted by obtaining responses in writing from local people and stakeholders. According to Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2006, public consultation refers to the process by which the concerns of local affected persons and others, who have plausible stake in the environmental impacts of the project, are addressed. It has two components—a public hearing and...

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