Of the 288 mining leases, 59 are working leases, which give
substantial production of key minerals viz iron ore, manganese,
chromite ore etc
The government has given in-principle approval to provide
single clearance for environment and forest to the new lease
holders of the 288 mining leases expiring in two years, a top
official today said.
“Environment Ministry has agreed that there will be no need
to have a separate environment clearance(EC) and forest clearance
(FC) to the new lease holders (of the 288 mines) as it is
already allowed in the Coal Ministry.
“They (environment ministry) are in process of issuing necessary
orders for it,” Steel secretary Aruna Sharma said here.
She was speaking during India Mining Summit here.
Asserting that she was totally in favour of a single window
system, Sharma said the auction of the expiring leases ought to
be done in 2019. The leases of the 288 mines expire on March
31, 2020.
The Secretary added hat ministries of mines, steel and environment
are working together in this regard.
“I totally endorse the single window system….We can’t afford .
to slip 2019. It has to be put on the auction floor in 2019,” Sharma
said.
Of the 288 mining leases, 59 are working leases, which give substantial
production of key minerals viz iron ore, manganese, chromite
ore etc.
The government had in March fixed the deadline at April 1, 2019
for general exploration of these 288 mining leases.
The development followed amendment to the Mineral Conservation
and Development Rules, 2017.
The government had said the auction process needs to be initiated
well in advance to ensure a seamless transition from the existing
to the new lessees so that mineral production is not affected
due to expiry of these leases.
Earlier, the Centre had issued a directive which mentioned that
all the existing leases have to be brought to an exploration level of
G2 (general exploration) or G1 (detailed exploration) in five years’
time.