27th Sep., 2018


The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has overruled the Union environment ministry’s three 2016 notifications that exempted mining of minor minerals like sand in up to 25 ha area from prior public consultation and the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

“EIA is an integral and most critical component of environmental clearance as it is only through the EIA that the potential impacts and potential risks of a project can be assessed and mitigation measures formulated…,’’ an NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel-led bench said in its order on Tuesday.

“…by exempting EIA and environmental management plan, critical environmental aspects like anticipated impacts, mitigation measures and additional studies involving public consultation, risk assessment, social impact, rehabilitation and resettlement action plans stand exempted.”

The bench noted that the ministry’s notifications were in conflict with the 2016 sustainable sand mining guidelines, which said an EIA should address the environmental impacts of minor mineral mining.

Read full story here