Cement, Energy and Environment

To F. No. 11-51/2015-FC Government of India Minish·y of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (Forest Conservation Division) The Principal Secretary (Forests), All State /Union Territory Governments Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Aliganj, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi -110 003 Dated: 1st May, 2015 Sub: Diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose nnder the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980- Guidelines regarding extension of period of validity of approvals accorded under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land for mining projects. Sir, I am directed to refer to this Ministry' letter of even number dated 1•t April 2015 on the above-mentioned subject wherein it was informed that in case of existing mining leases in respect of minerals specified in sub-section (1) of section 8A of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR, Act, 1957) inserted by the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015, period of validity of approvals accorded under section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (FC Act) shall be extended, and shall be deemed to have been extended upto a period co-terminus with the period of mining lease in accordance with the provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957, as amended, subject to the conditions stipulated in the afore-mentioned letter. 2. lt has been observed that several proposals seeking prior approval of Central Government under the FC Act for renewal, in accordance with the provisions of the MMDR, Act, 1957 prior to its amendment by promulgation of the afore-mentioned Ordinance. of mining leases, to which provisions of the afore-mentioned guidelines extends, are presently under various stages of examination in the Central and State Governments. Such proposals are now not required to be further processed, in case prior approval of Central Government under the FC Act for the entire forest land indicated in such proposals has already been obtained during the original lease period or previous renewal(s) of the mining lease. In case prior approval of Central Government under the FC Act for a part of the forest land indicated in such proposal has only been obtained during the validity of the original lease or previous renewal(s), such proposals are required to be processed only for such reduced area of forest land for which approval nnder the FC Act during the validity of the original lease or previous renewal(s) has not been obtained. .?' ~ \ o''"l o\ 60