The National Green Tribunal bench in Pune has directed the Ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) to clarify within two months whether the moratorium on mining activities in six talukas in the ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) of Sindhudurg district, is continuing or has been lifted.
A state-level expert appraisal committee (SEAC) in Maharashtra, headed by secretary to environment department, had sought such clarification from the MoEF after 20 existing mine owners moved proposals, over two years ago, seeking environment clearance (EC) for their mining quarries.
The proposals were moved in the wake of a Supreme Court judgment in 2012 that made EC mandatory for even quarries of less than five hectare area, said lawyer Saurabh Kulkarni, who is representing the mine owners. "The SEAC has neither rejected nor has approved these proposals in view of an MoEF directive in October 2013 regarding the moratorium," he said................Read more
Source web page: Times of India
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