Forest dept seeks direction from govt

Story/Place - Panaji,

TNN | Aug 29, 2011,


PANAJI: The forest department has sought direction from the state government whether it should grant clearances under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) for the operation of mines or refer all the cases to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).

Any mining lease operating within the 10-km zone from the border of any sanctuary or national park has to get clearances under the FCA from the Centre and approval of the state chief wildlife warden.

The issue has arisen after Goa state pollution control board ( GSPCB) suspended the operations of 35 mining companies for not providing requisite approvals from the chief wildlife warden and clearance under the FCA.

"Considering a Supreme Court order, we don't know whether we (forest department) have to grant clearances to mining companies or if we should refer all the cases to the national board for wildlife, hence we have asked direction from the government," said sources in the forest department

An apex court order dated 2006 had ruled that the ministry of environment and forest should refer the matter of clearance of mining leases to the standing committee of the NBWL under Section 5(b) and 5(c) (ii) of the Wild life (Protection) Act.

The office of additional principle chief conservator of forest has sought advice from the state government in the matter.

The clearances are valid till the end of the 20-year mining leases; once the mining lease is renewed mining companies have to apply for fresh clearances from the forest department.

In all cases where environment clearances have already been granted within the 10-km zone from the boundary of sanctuary and national park, the forest department wants to have clear directions from the government for granting clearances to mining companies said sources in forest department

Sources also said that according to the environment clearance there is a clause which mentions that the forest department should give clearances before mining operations commence.


source-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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