The environment
ministry plans to change forest clearance norms for mining projects to
make them simpler and discourage firms from acquiring excess land. It is
considering asking mine developers to seek forest clearance for the entire
lease area instead of the current practice of seeking nod in phases. This
requires them to seek clearances several times as and when they expand the
mining area.
For the government, it would mean getting the net present value of the full
forest area required for the mining lease, and the compensatory afforestation for
the diversion, instead of the present piecemeal system. “This is a welcome
move. This way you don't have to halt production on a 20-30 year lease every
time you need forest clearance,” said a SAIL official.
“The government will get upfront payment for the entire lease area. The
developer is anyhow in possession of the entire area. So the government gets no
benefit from it. Making it mandatory to get clearance for the entire area will
help the Centre get the NPV and the compensatory afforestation
payment right at the start,” a top government official said.
The ministry feels this will also ensure developers are realistic in assessing
the total forest area that needs to be diverted. “Given the money
developers will have to shell out at the outset, I'm sure they will be realistic,”
the official said.
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