Last Updated: 5/21/2025 11:39:00 PM
MoEF scraps mandatory environmental impact assessment and public hearing process in some cases The environment ministry has eased the environmental clearance process for industry particularly at the state level. In some projects relating to mining of minor minerals, river sand mining, thermal power plants with less than 5MW capacity, the ministry has done away with the mandatory environmental impact assessments and public hearings. Minor minerals mining projects, with a lease area of less than 25 hectares, have been categorised as B2 and will also enjoy this exemption from assessment reports and public consultation. In the case of sand mining, the ministry has said that the authorities should not consider any lease of less than 5 hectares for environment clearance. Sand mining projects with a lease of 5 to 25 hectares should be considered for clearance on the basis of a pre-feasibility report and the prescribed application form. Additionally, the ministry has set out six conditions for sand mining projects –mining must be manually done, maximum permissible depth of mining is three meters below the water level, mining in areas close to embankments, bridges can be undertaken only after a safety zone is worked out, no in-stream mining will be permitted developers to provide replenishment plans. The environmental clearance for river sand mining project would be for a maximum period of 5 years. Source: ET
