Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Impact of mining in forest areas, 21/11/2016
Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Impact of mining in forest areas, 21/11/2016. Mining activities in forest areas per se affect biodiversity. While according prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for mining projects in forest areas, the Central Government assesses the impact of such projects on plants and animals in each case, and stipulates appropriate measures to mitigate/ minimise these impacts. These measures include afforestation to compensate the loss of flora, implementation of wildlife management plan to combat the adverse impacts on the fauna, afforestation of safety zone, phased reclamation of mined out areas etc. to be undertaken at the project cost.