NEW DELHI | Dec 04, 2015: The Union Environment and Forests Ministry is considering a proposal to allow mineral exploration in blocks with a tree canopy of less than 10 per cent of the area without any clearance from the Ministry. However, areas with a tree canopy of over 70 per cent will be inviolate or “no-go” areas, Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar has said.
Tree canopy
In the proposal to speed up exploration, forest clearance would be granted at the district level for blocks where the tree canopy is between 10 per cent and 40 per cent.
The State Forest departments need to give clearances only in cases where the tree canopy is between 40 per cent and 70 per cent.
“We are hoping these norms would soon be notified by the Environment Ministry and it will help expedite permissions in 90 per cent of the exploration cases,” Mr. Kumar said at a consultation on the national mineral exploration policy hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Hurdles to output
To increase mineral output, the government plans to ease hurdles to the reconnaissance procedure for discovering new mineral deposits.
The Centre has set a target to complete the aerial geo-physical surveys of the entire country within three years.
The steps will require a change in a Defence Ministry order that bars sharing of data for 40 per cent of India’s landmass. The tardy clearance from the Ministries of Environment and Defence for exploration is hindering the process, and the Geological Survey of India has been covered 18 per cent of the country so far.
During 2001-2015, when firms were granted 405 reconnaissance permits for exploration, just 15 of these permits translated into a mining lease or prospecting licence, Mr. Kumar said. “The progress was dismal in the previous exploration regime as procedural delays led to forest and aviation-related clearances taking several years. The Defence Ministry restricts sharing of data with the public for nearly 40 per cent of the area” he said, adding that the Ministry of Mines is taking up the issue with the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation.
To attract more private investment into exploration, the government is exploring three models which include reserving a block where minerals are discovered for the public sector and offering the private explorer, who made the discovery the right of first refusal, for forming a mining joint venture with the public sector entity.
“Exploration firms could also be reimbursed for their investments with an attractive rate of return, by the mining firm that eventually operates the mine they discover,” Mr. Kumar said.
The third model proposed for private exploration is granting non-exclusive permits and discovered blocks are put on auction with a provision for royalties or production-sharing compensation for the explorer.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)