Question raised in Lok Sabha on Environmental Clearance for Sand Mining, 22/11/2016
Question raised in Lok Sabha on Environmental Clearance for Sand Mining, 22/11/2016. The government has notified the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which deals with the process of granting Environmental Clearance. The government has further decentralized the process of granting Environment Clearance for mining of sand and minor minerals and notified the amendments in the EIA Notification, 2006, vide SO No. 141 (E) on 15.01.2016for minor minerals with special focus on sustainable sand mining. The Ministry, vide Notification dated 15.01.2016, has also delegated the Authority of Environmental Clearance up to 5 hectare of individual mining lease of minor minerals and 25 hectares in clusters to the District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) headed by the District Magistrate/ District Collector. A District Expert Appraisal Committee (DEAC) has also been constituted under the chairmanship of the Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department to assist the DEIAA. The Ministry has notified the constitution of DEIAA and DEAC, vide Notification SO No. 190 (E) dated 20.01.2016.