Kozhikode | July 22, 2016: As per a recent directive of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment, the District Environment Impact Assessment Committee (DEIAC) has been formed in the district under the chairmanship of the District Collector N. Prasanth.

The committee comes into existence with a mission to curb all illegal mining activities in ecologically sensitive areas and to ensure proper legal compliance of those who operate the licensed mining units. The committee will looking into complaints and review or suspend the licenses granted to private mining units in case of any valid complaint from the public.

A District-level Expert Appraisal Committee (DEAC) has also been constituted to study such issues scientifically and submit reports for necessary action.

The DEIAC headed by the District Collector includes the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Divisional Forest Officer and a Deputy Conservator of Forest (Rtd).

The DEAC includes the heads of various government departments such as forest, irrigation, health, geology and groundwater. Experts from the Pollution Control Board, the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management and the Zoological Survey of India also will be in the committee.

According to officials, obtaining clearance from DEIAC will be mandatory for all mining projects taken up in an area up to five hectares. Even small projects below five hectares of land also have to be submitted for the approval of the committee. In case of public protest or environmental issues, the DEAC will conduct independent study and submit field report for further action.

So far, the Geology Department has been independently handling the field and supervising the licensing procedures. Though the Revenue Department and the local bodies had also a major role, a single body with the participation of experts to scientifically look at the environmental issues related to the mining field was missing in the district.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)