Mine owners get six months more to obtain forest clearance

The new deadline is September 30

In a breather to existing mine lease holders, the Centre has extended the deadline for obtaining forest clearance till September 30.

Last year, Union Environment Ministry had issued fresh guidelines, under which the existing mining leases that had obtained forest clearance (FC) for a part of forest land were given 'general approval' for the remaining area with some riders.

It had, however, given one year time till April 1, 2016 for those mining leases which had not obtained FC and said it would not allow mining after expiry of this deadline.

"This ministry received representations to extend the said period of one year stipulated in these guidelines. After careful examination, I am directed to say that the said period of one year stipulated in the said guidelines issued on April 1, 2015 is extended for a further period of six months till September 30, 2016," said Environment Ministry's Director H C Chaudhary in a circular issued to state governments.

Recently, the government had also lowered rates of Net Present Value (NPV) payable for use of forest land for underground mining projects which have got in-principal nod under the Forest Conservation Act.