MINING concerns can go ahead with theiroperations in areas upto 50 ha now,without having to obtain environmentalclearances from the ministry of environment and forests. This was stated byKamal Nath, Union minister of state forenvironment and forests at a recentmeeting of the Federation of IndianMineral Industries (FIMI) in New Delhi.
While the limit earlier was for 5 ha only, the 10-fold rise came about after mining industries voiced their mis givings. Said D V Pichamuthu, former president of the FIMI: "The limit of 5 ha is too smalland obtaining environmental clearance after submission of all details asper guidelines...involves a lot of time and expenditure".Companies interested in renewal of leases or expansion or modernisation ofmine areas, however, will have to seekenvironmental clearance.
Toattract foreign investment in thissector, guidelines are being formulatedto introduce modern mining technologylike airborne geophysical surveys,especially in large areas.