State to seek approval for mining in parts of forests, Western Ghats ESZ.

The state government is working on a proposal which would be put before the Centre seeking relaxation in eco sensitive zone (ESZ) norms for Western Ghats so as to allow bauxite mining in the area.

It is also being mooted to seek permission to allow mining in areas where the exploration of mineral deposits has been done earlier and forest notified later, like the Umred Karhandla Tiger reserve.

Talking to TOI on the sidelines of Mincon 22 conference organized by Vidarbha Economic Development (VED) Council, state’s principal secretary (industries and mining) Harshadeep Kamble, said, “For the Western Ghats, it would be mooted to either delete some of the areas from the ESZ or relax the mining norms in the zone. The area has bauxite which can be extracted without hampering the ecology.”

ESZ is the designated stretch normally up to 10 km from a forest or any other such area where mining or industrial activities are not allowed.

Kamble said the state government is trying to attain a middle path “so that mining is not hampered and environmental sustainability is ensured too”.

Giving example of Umred Karhandla forest, Kamble said there is gold and zinc there, which was proven earlier after a prospecting licence was given. “The area was later notified as a forest sometime in 2013. Now, the attempt would be to get permission to mine in the designated area or even part of it. There can be methods to carry out mining without disturbing the forest like underground mines,” he said.

The forests are notified by Centre due to which the state has to take a permission for relaxations. “In some cases even the GSI data would be relied on for seeking relaxation for mining in the forest areas too,” he said.

Kamble said the state is also talking to corporates like Tatas and JSWs, apart from players in energy sector to come up with investments in the state. “A major solar project can be expected in the state,” he said.

ET