**Executive Summary**
This document provides the government's response to Unstarred Question No. 759 concerning sustainable mining, addressed to the Minister of Mines and answered on February 4, 2026. The response details the process for including public representatives in Gram Sabha meetings for mining permissions, outlines measures to promote forestation by miners, and explains the steps taken to ensure safe mining practices and reduce pollution.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Public Involvement & Forestation:**
* Public hearings are mandatory for mining projects involving forest land or land acquisition.
* Statutory clearances from Central and State governments, including Forest Clearance, are required before executing a mining lease.
* Prospective lessees must undertake compensatory afforestation for diverted forest land.
* The MMDR Act, 1957, and the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, stipulate penal provisions for violations of rules protecting mines and forests.
* **Mine Safety & Pollution Control:**
* The Mines Act, 1952, ensures the occupational safety and health of mine workers.
* The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) inspects mines for compliance with the Mines Act, 1952, and related rules.
* Sustainable Mining Practices are implemented under Chapter-V of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017.
* Provisions are in place for precaution against air pollution, toxic liquid discharge, noise, and surface subsidence.
* **Star Rating Scheme:**
* Rule 35 of MCDR, 2017, establishes a star rating system for mining leases based on sustainable practices.
* The scheme recognizes good performers and encourages excellence in the sector.
* Mining leaseholders must achieve at least a three-star rating within four years of commencing operations and maintain it yearly.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Mining Lease Holders**
* **Impact:** Required to adhere to stricter environmental regulations, including compensatory afforestation and pollution control measures. Required to achieve at least a three-star rating within four years of operation.
* **Action Required:** Comply with sustainable mining practices as outlined in MCDR 2017 and related regulations, including achieving and maintaining the minimum three-star rating.
**Stakeholder: Mine Workers**
* **Impact:** Benefit from enhanced occupational safety and health measures enforced through the Mines Act, 1952, and DGMS inspections.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of and adhere to safety regulations and report any violations.
**Stakeholder: Communities Near Mining Operations**
* **Impact:** Protected by the requirement for public hearings and the implementation of pollution control measures.
* **Action Required:** Participate in public hearings related to mining projects.
**Stakeholder: Government Agencies (Ministry of Mines, DGMS, Central and State Governments)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for enforcing regulations, conducting inspections, and ensuring compliance with sustainable mining practices.
* **Action Required:** Implement and enforce the provisions of the Mines Act, 1952, MCDR 2017, and related regulations, including conducting regular inspections and public hearings.
**Stakeholder: General Public**
* **Impact:** Benefits from sustainable mining practices protecting air, land, and water quality.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of mining practices and regulations and report any violations.
Key Entities Referenced
Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017: Rules that establish sustainable mining practices, including pollution control, environmental safeguards, and a star rating scheme for mining leases.
Ministry of Mines: The primary government body responsible for implementing sustainable mining practices and the MCDR.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act): Act stipulating penal provisions for violation of the rules for the protection of mines and forests.
Mines Act, 1952: Act to ensure occupational safety & health of mine workers.
Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS): Directorate entrusted with the task of inspecting mines to ensure compliance with the Mines Act, 1952.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 759
ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
SUSTAINABLE MINING
759. SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:
Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Member of Parliament or any other public representative is a part of
the process during the Gram Sabha being held before the permission of mining, if so,
the details thereof;
(b) the details of the steps taken by the Government to monitor that the miners are
also promoting forestation and working for the development of the Mining area and the
forests also including the serious punishments or penalties imposed on the mine
owners who violates and does not follow the rules for protection of mines and forests;
and
(c) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to ensure safe mining and
reduce pollution caused by mining?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) & (b): Wherever forest land is involved, or acquisition of land is required for mining
purposes, public hearing as required under relevant laws takes place. As per existing
law, before execution of the mining lease, it is mandatory to obtain the requisite
statutory clearances from various departments of the Central Government and
respective State Governments, including Forest Clearance. As part of the Forest
Clearance, the prospective lessee has to undertake compensatory afforestation in lieu
of the diversion of forest land for mining. The Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam, 1980 and Rules framed thereunder stipulate the penal provisions for
violation of the rules for protection of mines and forests.
(c): The Central Government has enacted the Mines Act, 1952 to ensure occupational
safety & health of mine workers. Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Ministry
of Labour and Employment has been entrusted the task of inspection of mines to
ensure the compliance of the provisions of Mines Act, 1952 and rules and regulations
framed thereunder for enhancing the safety of mine workers.Ministry of Mines has implemented Sustainable Mining Practices by making provisions
under Chapter-V of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017.
Provisions have been incorporated in the rules for precaution against air pollution,
prevention of discharge of toxic liquid, precaution against noise, control of surface
subsidence, etc.
Rule 35 of MCDR, 2017 provides for star rating of the mining leases based on the
sustainable mining practices adopted by the miners. The star rating scheme is
designed to have an inbuilt compliance mechanism for environment and forest
safeguards and has been helpful in recognizing good performers in the sector while
encouraging all mining lease holders to strive for excellence.
Further, as per Rule 35 (4) of MCDR, 2017, every holder of a mining lease is mandated
to achieve at least three-star rating within a period of four years from the date of
commencement of mining operations and thereafter maintain the same on year-on-
year basis.
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