States asked to act on mining violations

Government today said that it has issued directions to various states for filing complaints of violations of the provisions of Environment Protection Act in 238 mining projects.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told Lok Sabha in a written reply that his ministry has observed violations by mining companies in respect of enhancement of production without prior environmental clearance and not obtaining environmental clearance during renewal state of mining lease.
"During the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 (upto June 30), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued directions to various state governments for filing complaints under Section 15/19 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 in competent courts of law in case of 238 mining projects for violation of provisions of Environment (Protection) Act 1986," Javadekar said.

As per data, in 2014-15 (till June 30), 53 such violations have been observed in which 23 are from Jharkhand while six each are there from Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
He said his ministry has issued a notification for promoting utilisation of fly ash in 1999 as amended which prescribes restriction of excavation of top soil for manufacture of bricks, promotion of utilisation of fly ash in manufacture of building materials and in construction activity, prohibition of reclamation and compaction of low lying areas with soil within a radius of one hundred kilometres from coal or lignite based thermal power plants.

Replying to another question, he said the government has proposed amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and has introduced The Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill 2013 in the Rajya Sabha in 2013.
He said the Bill proposes to enhance penalties in respect of certain offences including those related to hunting. It also proposes to prohibit manufacture, sell, purchase keeping or transport any animal trap except with prior permission of Chief Wildlife Warden.
The minister said the Bill also proposes to enhance penalty for offences related to animals specified in Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II and proposes to enhance penalty for offences related to hunting in Sanctuary or National Park amongst others.