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India Approves 1,719 Mining Projects on Forest Lands
Sep 6, 2011 3:58 AM By Dilipp S Nag
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RAPAPORT... India has approved 1,719 applications so far to undertake mining and prospecting of diamond and gold across approximately 142,135 hectares of forest land. The use of the forest lands for non-forest purposes, requires prior approval of the Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Jayanthi Natarajan, the minister of state for environment and forests stated in Lok Sabha Monday. The government approvals are generally subjected to fulfillment of certain general and standard conditions, among others.
Rio Tinto Exploration India Private Ltd., which has been granted some approvals, seeks an extension period for drilling an additional 143 bore holes for prospecting of diamond in 2,329.75 hectares of forest land located in Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh.
National Mineral Development Corporation has received an ''in-principle approval'' on its renewal proposal for mining leases involving 74.018 hectares forest land for its diamond mining project in Madhya Pradesh, the sole diamond producing state in the country.