Parliament Question: Resumption of Mining in Karwandia

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2957 ANSWERED ON 05.08.2026 RESUMPTION OF MINING IN KARWANDIA 2957. SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH: Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that the Rohtas district administration has initiated an assessment of the Karwandia mining belt for the resumption of mining activities after a prolonged closure and if so, the details thereof; (b) Whether any socio-economic and environmental impact assessment has been conducted to evaluate likely effects on restarting mining on agricultural land, groundwater, forests and the livelihoods of local residents particularly landless labourers, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other vulnerable communities and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government proposes to ensure that local workers are given priority in employment, guaranteed statutory wages, social security benefits and safe working conditions instead of increasing contractualisation of labour and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether any rehabilitation and compensation package has been prepared for families likely to be displaced or adversely affected by renewed mining operations and if so, the details thereof along with the suggested compensation? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY) (a) and (b): State Governments are empowered to conduct auction of major mineral blocks under Section 10B and 11 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 and grant mineral concessions. Further, Section 15 of the MMDR Act empowers the State Governments to make rules for regulating the grant of mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals. As per the information received from the Government of Bihar, the Sub-Divisional Committee identified an area of approximately 521 hectares in the Karwandia mining belt, Rohtas district, in the District Survey Report (DSR) for grant of mining leases. The mining lease holder can commence mining operations only after obtaining all mandatory statutory clearances, including Forest Clearance under theapplicable provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and other applicable statutory approvals, including environmental clearance. (c): As per the information received from the Government of Bihar, the issues relating to employment of local persons, payment of statutory wages, social security benefits, occupational health and safety, and other statutory compliances are governed by the applicable labour codes. The successful lessee/Project Proponent is required to comply with the applicable provisions of the Labour Codes. (d): As per the information received from the Government of Bihar, no rehabilitation and compensation package exists at present, as no mining project has yet commenced operations. *****