SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND MINING

Rajasthan Rajasthan is the second largest producer of minerals in the country Rajasthan is the second largest producer of minerals in the country 79 varieties of minerals of which 58 are being exploited 79 varieties of minerals of which 58 are being exploited Largest producer of Wolastonite, Lead Zinc, Calcite, Gypsum, Rock phospate, Ochre, Silver, Marble, Sandstone etc Largest producer of Wolastonite, Lead Zinc, Calcite, Gypsum, Rock phospate, Ochre, Silver, Marble, Sandstone etc Huge reserves of Lignite Million Tonnes, Bitumen – 33.2 Million Tonnes Crude Oil – 900 Million Tonnes and Gas about 30 Billion Cubic meter Huge reserves of Lignite Million Tonnes, Bitumen – 33.2 Million Tonnes Crude Oil – 900 Million Tonnes and Gas about 30 Billion Cubic meter

Rajasthan has 2799 leases of major minerals and leases of minor minerals Rajasthan has 2799 leases of major minerals and leases of minor minerals Major source of revenue and employment Major source of revenue and employment Mineral policy promotes mechanized and scientific mining keeping in view environmental measures and mineral conservation Mineral policy promotes mechanized and scientific mining keeping in view environmental measures and mineral conservation Policy also aims at simplifying procedures and achieving greater transparency in decision making Policy also aims at simplifying procedures and achieving greater transparency in decision making

Causes of Environmental Degradation NaturalAnthropogenic Soil erosion Fuel wood Wind erosion Overgrazing High temperature Timber felling RainfallAgriculture Industries Mining Mining

Issues in Mining and Sustainable Development Government Industries Collaboration Government Industries Collaboration Involvement of local people, NGOs, Panchayats Involvement of local people, NGOs, Panchayats Statutory Provisions Statutory Provisions - Forest Diversion - Environmental Clearances - Consent to Operate - Consent to Establish - Charagah NOC - Wild life Sanctuaries

Challenges & Interventions To balance the considerations of growth and environment To balance the considerations of growth and environment Policy interventions Policy interventions Technological interventions like use of marble slurry as compacting material for roads and use of fly ash in place of Gypsum Technological interventions like use of marble slurry as compacting material for roads and use of fly ash in place of Gypsum Restoration and reclamation of abandoned mines with the help of NGOs/Mines Association Restoration and reclamation of abandoned mines with the help of NGOs/Mines Association Plantation by mine owners - Cairn India 25000, Hindustan Zinc Ltd , R.K. Marble , RSMML Plantation by mine owners - Cairn India 25000, Hindustan Zinc Ltd , R.K. Marble , RSMML Green initiatives like RSMML has taken up Renewable Energy Projects Green initiatives like RSMML has taken up Renewable Energy Projects

Illegal Mining Causes of Illegal Mining – Tedious and lengthy procedure involved in sanction of mining leases. Tedious and lengthy procedure involved in sanction of mining leases. Difficult to comply with statutory conditions Difficult to comply with statutory conditions Part of sale value of minerals is taken by the Government in case of legal mining Part of sale value of minerals is taken by the Government in case of legal mining Remedies – Simplifying the procedure for sanction of mining leases Simplifying the procedure for sanction of mining leases Strict actions against offenders Strict actions against offenders

Control of Illegal Mining Simplification of procedures Simplification of procedures Online scrutiny Online scrutiny Mines Department to obtain various clearances before sanction of mines Mines Department to obtain various clearances before sanction of mines Changes in rules to incorporate severe penalties against offenders Changes in rules to incorporate severe penalties against offenders 500 border home guards deployed to control illegal mining 500 border home guards deployed to control illegal mining

S.No.Description Year Year Number of cases of illegal mining Number of FIRs Number of implements seized Recovery of the penalty amount from illegal mining (Rs. in lacs ) Action taken to check Illegal Mining

Thanks

Dr. Govind Sharma, IAS Principal Secretary, Mines and Petroleum. Office: