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Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Over 60 mineral blocks await clearance in Raj
Jaipur: The mining sector in Rajasthan is facing a significant slowdown as over 60 major mineral blocks remain stuck in various stages of clearance. According to official data, key approvals related to environmental clearance (EC), forest diversion, Charagah no objection certificates (NoC), and mining plans are pending across different departments, delaying the commencement of operations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now An official said, "The highest number of pendencies lies in environmental clearance, where 29 blocks are awaiting approval. Of these, 12 files are pending with the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF), 11 with the state environment impact assessment authority (SELAA), and 6 at the applicant level." The Charagah NoC, mandatory for land use clearance involving grazing land, remains pending for 15 blocks. Industry experts said the delay in clearances is not only affecting state revenue but also impacting employment generation and raw material supply to key sectors such as cement, construction, and manufacturing. This includes 1 file at the revenue department, 2 with the district collector, and 12 pending at the applicant level, suggesting delays in submission or processing of required documentation. Additionally, 15 mining plans—critical for operational approval—are yet to be cleared. Out of these, 8 are awaiting scrutiny by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), while 7 are stuck at the applicant level. The forest diversion clearance, although limited to one block, remains unresolved at the forest department level, adding to the bottleneck. Industry experts said the delay in clearances is not only affecting state revenue but also impacting employment generation and raw material supply to key sectors such as cement, construction, and manufacturing. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Timely clearance is crucial for maintaining investor confidence and ensuring sustainable growth in the mining sector. These pendencies will be addressed through coordinated efforts between departments," said a senior official. With the state targeting increased mineral production under its economic roadmap, resolving these bottlenecks could play a critical role in unlocking the potential of Rajasthan's vast mineral wealth. "A team will be set up to coordinate and remove the bottlenecks as the dept eyes at least 1000 crore revenue per month," the official said.
New Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Can fine 100% value of mineral quarried sans green nod: Madras High Court
By virtue of the authoritative pronouncement of the judgment by the SC in the Common Cause case, read with section 20 (a) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, it can be seen that the state, as a delegatee in framing rules relating to minor minerals, could not have created any contra rules that overreach or supersede the notifications issued by the centre. 'Consequently, notwithstanding Rule 42 (iii) of the TN Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959, which grants 630 days of time, I hold that both the lessees of major and minor minerals of less than 5 ha are mandated to obtain EC, even if they are existing lessees and their renewal is not due as of 15.01.2016,' the order read. Justice Chakravarthy stated once it has been established that it is a mandate of law, merely because there were some actions taken by the state government and the MoEF in issuing clarifications, it cannot be claimed that Section 21 (5) of the MMDR Act, 1957 cannot be enforced. He upheld the individual orders of the collectors, challenged in the writ pleas, which impose 100% penalty of the minerals' value under the MMDR Act. However, he ordered deducting the seiniorage fees already paid by the lessees from the penalty amount and recover the balance which shall be intimated to them within three weeks. The lessees have to pay the amount within two months thereof.
Hans India
31-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Ensure timely execution of power projects: CS
Vijayawada: Chief Secretary K Vijayanand conducted a review meeting on APGENCO, thermal power projects, hydel projects and pumped storage projects (PSPs) in the State. The meeting was attended by APGENCO's Managing Director KVN Chakradhar Babu and Directors P Ashok Kumar Reddy and M Sujaya Kumar, Director APTRANSCO AKV Bhaskar among other senior officials. The Chief Secretary stressed on the importance of timely project execution and emphasised inter-departmental coordination in obtaining statutory/MoEF(Ministry of Environment & Forests) clearances for fast-track execution. He directed the officials to maintain momentum in achieving project milestones to meet the State's growing power demand and to ensure energy sustainability for Andhra Pradesh and said that the progress of action plan for the ongoing power generation projects will be reviewed on monthly basis. The Chief Secretary said that the 1,350 MW Upper Sileru Pumped Storage Project works have been awarded, while other pumped storage projects at Kamalapadu, Yaganti, Rajupalem, Aravetipalli, Gadikota and Deenepalli were progressing through various stages of feasibility studies and DPR preparation. He instructed APGENCO officials to initiate necessary arrangements for organising the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Upper Sileru project by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Minister for Energy Gottipati Ravi Kumar. Emphasising on the significance of key thermal power projects, the Chief Secretary said that wet and dry ash evacuation systems and ash disposal lines were operational and directed the officials to complete balance CHP mechanical and structural works at Dr Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station (Stage V – 1x800 MW) and final commissioning of the mill reject system is scheduled for mid-June 2025. The Chief Secretary also said that at Dr MVR Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant (Stage IV – 1x600 MW), balance CHP construction works such as the crusher house and conveyor systems were progressing steadily and structural steel fabrication and mechanical erection works were being executed. The works are set for timely execution and completion by December 2025. Reviewing the Hydel power projects, the Chief Secretary said that the 960 MW Polavaram Hydro Electric Project is scheduled for commissioning by January 2027.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stringent norms set for execution of Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road project
An expert panel under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) that recently granted final clearance for the proposed Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road project has fixed stringent norms for the project's execution under the direct monitoring of a four-member committee recommended by the District Collector. A review report will have to be submitted every six months after the commencement of work. 'A notification on the final clearance will be out within a week, which will help us move to the construction phase. The formal construction agreement will be signed following the final clearance,' said Thiruvambady MLA Linto Joseph. While giving final clearance, the expert panel has laid 60 conditions to reduce environmental impact and address concerns raised by various green bodies about natural calamities in ecologically sensitive areas. 'The norms fixed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Central Institute for Mining and Fuel Research will have to be strictly followed at the worksite. Also, suggestions by various government panels related to geology, environment, and mining will have to be considered as such,' said Mr. Joseph. There is also a proposal to establish four ground vibrator monitoring stations to constantly assess the work's impact, he added. Ensuring proper protection of biodiversity in the project area is another major condition. The construction company will have to ensure that the flow of the Iruvazhinji river is not interrupted. Also, the company will be responsible for the close monitoring of the quality of air in the constructed tunnel. The ₹2,134-crore project will be completed with the cooperation of the Department of Public Works, Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board, and Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL). The tendering process had already been completed for the project which will be implemented by Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon Limited and Kolkota-based Royal Infrastructure. Meanwhile, N. Badusha, president of Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi, said the Samithi would move the Kerala High Court challenging the clearance for the project. Also, a protest would be staged along with other organisations during Environment Day celebrations in front of the Wayanad Collectorate on June 5,' he said. It was on October 16, 2000, that the blueprint for the 8.17-km twin tunnel, claimed to be the third longest underpass in the country, was unveiled by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. To speed up the project execution, the Chief Minister had included it in the list of 30 special projects directly monitored by him.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Sand mining to resume in Kerala rivers after long gap of nine years
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: River sand mining is set to resume in Kerala after a gap of nine years. The revenue department recently issued an order on the standard operating procedure (SOP) for mining activities. The SOP is the first step in a series of procedures involving different government departments. The SOP is based on the directives issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal. Under this, District Survey Reports are to be prepared for districts where mining is planned. It should be prepared by an agency approved by the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training. The state has so far prepared DSRs for 11 districts with the support of NABET-approved CSIR-NIIST. Of them, four were approved by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the remaining are under different stages of review. The report has information on the mining potential of rivers in the districts and their environmental impact. The primary data would be the sand auditing report for each district prepared earlier under government supervision. So far, audits have been conducted for 32 of the 44 rivers. Of them, 17 rivers in 10 districts were recommended for restricted mining activities. They are Mogral, Uppala, Shiriya,Chandragiri, Valapattanam, Perumba, Sreekandapuram, Mahe, Kadalundi, Chaliyar, Bharathappuzha, Muvattupuzha, Periyar, Manimala, Pampa, Achankovil and Kulathupuzha. Rules amendment After the SOP, the state mining and geology department should give a letter of intent. Since existing mines and mineral rules do not provide for an LoI, an amendment should be brought to it. Following this, the RDO of a district can apply for environmental clearance. Based on the clearance, the mining and geology department will issue permits for mining from each river. As per the present plan, mining activities would be under the supervision of the Kadavu committee formed for specific banks of a river. The committee to be constituted by the district collector will have the grama panchayat president or the municipal chairperson as its ex-officio president and LSGI secretary as ex-officio secretary.
