Download Incidents of illegal sand mining

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 854
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2015
Incidents of illegal sand mining
854.
SHRI PARVEZ HASHMI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a)
whether Government has taken note of increasing incidents of illegal sand mining in the
country particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand;
(b)
if so, the details thereof;
(c)
the number of illegal sand mining cases booked in the country including those States during
the last three years, year-wise;
(d)
whether Government has taken any deterrent action against illegal miners to curb illegal sand
mining in the country; and
(e)
if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a), (b) and (c):Sand is a minor mineral. State Governments regulate grant of mining leases and
other concessions in respect of all minor minerals including Sand.The enforcement of sand mining
leases, controlling and abating illegal sand mining is largely vested withthe State Governments. The
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) reports on the incidents of illegal mining. However, no data is
maintained separately for sand mining. The statement showing year-wise cases of illegal mining for
major and minor minerals together in the State of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand are
enclosed at Annexure.
(d) and (e): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Environment
Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time, under the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 which deals with the process to grant Environmental Clearance. The projects
of mining of minerals including sand require prior environmental clearance. As per EIA Notification
2006, all the Project Proponents including sand mining projects needs to prepare a detailed
Environmental Impact Assessment/Environmental Management Plan for obtaining Environmental
Clearance. While according environmental clearance, the Expert Appraisal Committee stipulates
necessary conditions for safeguarding the environment. The status of compliance of stipulated
conditions of the environmental clearances of different projects, including sand mining projects, is
monitored by ten Regional Offices of this Ministry in the Country.The Ministry has formulated
Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines in September, 2015. The Guidelines,inter-alia,
emphasizes on monitoring plans to evaluate the long-term effect of the mining activities both
upstream and downstream of sand extraction sites and streamlining the process of impact
assessment, environment management plan and environmental clearance in cluster situation.
***
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to (c) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question Number
854 for 07.12.2015 by Shri Parvez Hashmiregarding Incidents of Illegal Sand Mining
S.
No.
States
Illegal mining cases
Action taken by the State
Governments
20122013
20132014
20142015
20152016
(upto
June
2015)
FIRs
lodged
(nos.)
Court
case
filed
(nos.)
Vehicles
seized
(nos.)
1.
Uttar
Pradesh
3266
6777
10402
2020
0
0
0
Fine
realized
by State
Govt.
(Rs. in
lakhs)
7151.75
2.
Rajasthan
2861
2953
2945
687
2183
52
3631
3979.294
3.
Jharkhand
663
901
1162
441
1656
177
1061
1962.37
***