Centre amends mining law, exempts several activities from green clearance

It said exemption from the requirement of environmental clearance shall also be given to removal of sand deposits on agricultural fields after a flood by farmers.

Removal of sand deposits from agricultural fields after floods will not require green clearance now, with the Centre amending the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.

In its notification, the Ministry of Environment has said that extraction of ordinary clay or sand by manual mining, by the 'kumhars' (potter) to prepare earthen pots, extraction of clay or sand by manual mining by earthen tile makers shall be exempted from the condition of acquiring environmental clearance.

"The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is in the receipt of representations for waiver of the requirement of prior environmental clearance for