SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Considering that iron ore mining leads to pollution and environmental destruction, the ‘polluter pays’ principle could make its way into the new National Mineral Policy, with the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) proposing this. A similar principle has already been adopted by the Goa pollution authorities.
The ‘polluter pays’ is an environmental policy principle which says that the costs of pollution be borne by those who cause it.
The Ministry at a recent meeting of the Dr KV Rao Committee, constituted to review the National Mineral Policy (NMP) 2008, suggested that that ‘polluter pays’ principle may be incorporated in the new policy so that miners turn cautious and undertake mining in a responsible manner. The Ministry said that the concept was a major decision in the case of common cause and it can be incorporated in the policy.
In Goa, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has already adopted the ‘polluter pays’ concept while granting Consent to Operate under Air and Water Act to the iron ore mining leases. The Board demands a bank guarantee assuring ‘no pollution’ from the lease holder for granting or renewing the consent.
GSPCB seeks a bank guarantee of Rs 50 lakh for mining leases with area above 100 hectares, Rs 25 lakh for mining lease area between 50 hectares and 100 hectares and Rs 12.5 lakh for mining lease area below 50 hectares.
Sustainable development, tribal welfare, responsible mining, exploration and intergenerational equity are some of the core areas of the NMP.
MoEF&CC has further suggested that the prospecting licence for mining activities should not be allowed in very dense and thick forests as the Ministry finds it difficult to give forest and environment clearances in such cases.
It also stressed upon the demand that while developing mining infrastructure in the area, it should be ensured that the process should cause only minimum damage to flora and fauna of that area by using state-of-the-art techniques. Conservation of biodiversity, forest wildlife should be an integral part of NMP, the Ministry opined.
