Rush for mining licences, environmental clearances
Government is still chalking out a new policy after the state division.
Anantapur: With uncertainty looming over the new mining policy, mining companies and mining barons have been making efforts to speedily obtain mining leases and clearances from the departments concerned.
The state government is still chalking out the new policy after the states' division. However, the mining companies were reportedly making all efforts to acquire various types of valuable mines in the state even before implementation of the new policy as the government plans to go in for an auction of each piece of mining area.
At its recently held 72nd and 73rd meetings, the State-Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) at Tirupati issued several environmental clearances (ECs) for mining activities.
The SEIAA meeting held in October examined online applications of the mining companies and individuals seeking ECs.
The committee was headed by S. Balasubrahmanyam, chairman, with G.M. Jagannadha Raju, professor of chemical engineering, Andhra University, and Surendra Pandey, special secretary of Environment and Forests, as members.
The SEIAA had rejected an EC application from Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy who was seeking it for five hectares of land to conduct black granite mining in survey number 455 at O.D. Cheruvu mandal headquarters in Kadiri revenue division of Anantapur district.
The committee rejected the application as the proponent was operating the mine without an EC. Anantapur mining officials said the MP had not taken up work according to norms and no activities were reported at the proposed site.
The committee did not clear three other online representations from the border areas, who had been advised to approach the ministry of environment and forests, New Delhi, as the mining area was located within 5 km radius of the interstate boundary.
G. Shivanandappa applied for a clearance of one hectare for mining colour granite at Jadrahalli and also another representation pertaining to Amidalagondi in Madakasira mandal as they were located closer to the Karnataka border.
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