## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to EIA Notification 2006 Regarding Mining Leases
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes an amendment to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006, as published in the Gazette of India on July 13, 2021. The amendment focuses on streamlining the transfer of environmental clearances for mining leases to successful bidders following lease expirations and auctions, aligning the EIA Notification with amendments to the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, 1957. The key change involves the automatic transfer of existing environmental clearances to the new lessee for the remaining validity period, subject to online registration and compliance undertaking. This amendment aims to ensure continuity in mining operations while adhering to environmental safeguards.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an informative analysis of the amendment to the EIA Notification, 2006, pertaining to the transfer of environmental clearances for mining leases. The analysis is based solely on the official text published in the Gazette of India on July 13, 2021. The purpose is to inform affected industry stakeholders about the details and implications of this amendment.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* The amendment modifies the original EIA Notification of 2006 (S.O. 1533E, dated September 14, 2006).
* The core objective of this *amendment*, as inferred from the text, is to align the EIA Notification 2006 with the amended Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act, 1957, specifically regarding the transfer of environmental clearances for mining leases. This seems to be in response to legislative changes and court directives affecting the mining sector.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This amendment addresses the issue of environmental clearance transfer following the expiry and auction of mining leases. The previous process, as evidenced by the references to earlier amendments (S.O. 1224E dated March 28, 2020), likely caused delays or uncertainties in the resumption of mining operations by successful bidders. This was further complicated by court judgments (Goa Foundation versus Ms Sesa Sterlite Ltd., Ors.). The rationale for the amendment is to facilitate a smoother transition and ensure continuity in mining activities while still maintaining environmental safeguards, as necessitated by amendments to the MMDR Act in 2020 and 2021.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This amendment modifies paragraph 11 of the EIA Notification 2006 by substituting subparagraph 3. The specific changes are as follows:
* **Original Policy (Before Amendment):** The original provision is not stated in this document.
* **New Rule/Provision:** "The prior Environmental Clearance vested with the previous lessee shall be deemed to have been transferred during its validity period in terms of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957 67 of 1957 as amended by the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Amendment Act, 2021 16 of 2021 to the successful bidder of the mining leases, from the date of commencement of new lease for the remaining validity period calculated from the date from which the said Environmental Clearance was initially granted, subject to the new lessee registering online on PARIVESH portal along with an undertaking to comply with all the conditions of the transferred Environmental Clearance."
* **Difference/Effect:** This change effectively *automates* the transfer of environmental clearances. Instead of requiring a potentially lengthy process for the new lessee to obtain a fresh clearance or a temporary transfer, the existing clearance is *deemed* to be transferred automatically upon the commencement of the new lease. The new lessee must register online on the PARIVESH portal and provide an undertaking to comply with the conditions of the existing clearance. This streamlines the process significantly, potentially reducing downtime between leases.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the text, the primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment are:
* **Successful bidders of mining leases:** They benefit from the streamlined transfer of environmental clearances.
* **Previous lessees of mining leases:** The policy impacts the transfer of their environmental clearances.
* **Regulatory authorities:** These include the Central Government and State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities who oversee environmental compliance and enforcement.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is responsible for implementing the amendment. The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) is also involved. The PARIVESH portal is a key tool for implementation.
* **Timelines and Procedures:** The transfer of environmental clearance is effective from the date of commencement of the new lease. The new lessee is required to register online on the PARIVESH portal and provide an undertaking to comply with the conditions of the transferred Environmental Clearance. The validity period of the transferred EC is the remaining period from its initial grant.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of these specific changes introduced by the amendment text are:
* **Reduced delays in resuming mining operations:** The automatic transfer of environmental clearances should minimize the time between the expiry of an old lease and the commencement of operations under a new lease.
* **Increased efficiency in the regulatory process:** The streamlined transfer process should reduce the administrative burden on both the regulatory authorities and the new lessees.
* **Continued environmental compliance:** The requirement for the new lessee to register online and provide an undertaking ensures that environmental safeguards are maintained.
* **Alignment with MMDR Act:** The amendment ensures that the EIA Notification is consistent with the amended MMDR Act, providing legal clarity and certainty for the mining sector.
**9. Conclusion:**
This amendment to the EIA Notification 2006 is a significant development for the mining sector. By streamlining the transfer of environmental clearances, the amendment aims to facilitate a smoother transition between mining leases, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure continued environmental compliance. The automatic transfer of clearances, subject to online registration and compliance undertaking, is a key change that will likely have a positive impact on the efficiency and certainty of mining operations, while also aligning environmental regulations with the amended MMDR Act.
Key Entities Referenced
Environment Protection Act, 1986: An Indian environmental law under which the notifications and amendments are issued.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Rules related to the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
EIA Notification: Refers to the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, specifically S.O.1533 E, dated the 14th September, 2006 and subsequent amendments. Used to regulate projects and activities impacting the environment.
Central Government: The Government of India, which issues the notifications and amendments related to environmental regulations.
State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority: A state-level authority constituted by the Central Government to handle environmental clearances.
Honble Supreme Court: The Supreme Court of India, which issued a judgment related to environmental clearances in mining cases.
Goa Foundation: An entity involved in a case before the Supreme Court related to environmental clearances, specifically in the matter of Goa Foundation versus Ms Sesa Sterlite Ltd., Ors.
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957: Indian legislation governing the regulation and development of mines and minerals.
Mineral Laws Amendment Act, 2020: An act that amended the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957.
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Amendment Act, 2015: An act that amended the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957.
Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Amendment Act, 2021: An act that amended the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957.
Atomic Energy Act, 1962: An act related to atomic energy, which is mentioned in the context of exceptions to certain provisions regarding transfer of rights.
PARIVESH portal: An online portal where new lessees need to register and undertake to comply with the conditions of transferred Environmental Clearance.
New Delhi: The location where the notification was issued.
रजजस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-13072021-228273
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ऄसाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—ईप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 2612] नइ ददल्ली, मगं लवार, जुलाइ 13, 2021/अषाढ़ 22, 1943
No. 2612] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021/ASHADHA 22, 1943
पयाावरण, वन और जलवाय ुपररवतना मत्रं ालय
ऄजधसचू ना
नइ ददल्ली, 13 जुलाइ, 2021
का.अ. 2817(ऄ).—केन्द्रीय सरकार न े भारत सरकार के तत्कालीन पयाावरण और वन मंत्रालय द्वारा पयाावरण
(संरक्षण) जनयम, 1986 के जनयम 5 के ईपजनयम (3) के खडं (घ) के साथ परित पयाावरण (संरक्षण) ऄजधजनयम, 1986 की
धारा 3 की ईपधारा (1) और ईपधारा (2) के खडं (v) के ऄधीन जारी की गइ ऄजधसूचना संखयांक का.अ. 1533(ऄ),
तारीख 14 जसतंबर, 2006 (जजसे आसमें आसके पश्चात् इअइए ऄजधसूचना कहा गया ह)ै द्वारा यह जनदेि ददया था दक आस
ऄजधसूचना के प्रकािन की तारीख से ही नवीन पररयोजनाओं या दियाकलापों के ऄपेजक्षत संजनमााण या इअइए ऄजधसूचना
की ऄनुसूची म ें सूचीबद्ध जवद्यमान पररयोजनाओं या दियाकलापों के जवस्ट्तारण या अधुजनकीकरण के काय ा को, जजसम ें
प्रदिया या तकनीक और/या ईत्पाद जमश्रण में पररवतना सजहत क्षमता में वृजद्ध दकया जाना सजममजलत ह,ै भारत के दकसी
भाग में केवल, यथाजस्ट्थजत, केन्द्रीय सरकार या केन्द्रीय सरकार द्वारा ईक्त ऄजधजनयम की धारा 3 की ईपधारा (3) के ऄधीन
समयक् रूप से गरित राज्य स्ट्तरीय पयाावरण समाघात जनधारा ण प्राजधकरण से, ईसमें जवजनर्ददष्ट प्रदिया के ऄनुसार, पूव ा
पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि लने े के पश्चात् ही अरंभ दकया जाएगा ;
और, माननीय ईच्चतम न्द्यायालय ने गोवा फाईंडेिन बनाम मसै सा सेसा स्ट्टरलाइट जलजमटेड और ऄन्द्य के मामले म ें
ऄपील के जलए जविेष छूट (जसजवल) 2015 की स.ं32138 द्वारा 7 फरवरी, 2018 के ऄपने जनणाय म,ें ऄन्द्य बातों के साथ,
ईन व्यजक्तयों के जलए जो नए खनन पट्टे प्राप्त करन े में सफल रह े ह,ैं नयी पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि प्राप्त करन े के जलए जनदेि
ददया था ;
और, खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) की धारा 8(क) की
ईपधारा (6) यह ईपबंध करती ह ै दक : “ईपधारा (2), ईपधारा (3) और ईपधारा (4) म ें ऄतं र्ववष्ट दकसी बात के होत े हुए
3872 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
भी, जहां खजनज का ईपयोग कैजटटव से जभन्न प्रयोजन के जलए दकया जाता ह,ै खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन)
संिोधन ऄजधजनयम, 2015 के प्रारंभ की तारीख के पूवा ऄनुदि पट्टे की कालावजध का ईसके ऄंजतम बार दकए गए नवीकरण
की कालावजध के ऄवसान की तारीख से 31 माचा, 2020 को समाप्त होने वाली कालावजध तक के जलए, या नवीकरण की
कालावजध, यदद कोइ हो, के पूरा होन े तक के जलए या ऐसा पट्टा ऄनुदि दकए जान े की तारीख से पचास वष ा तक की
कालावजध के जलए आनमें से जो भी पश्चात्वती हो, आस िता के ऄधीन रहते हुए दक पट्टे के सभी जनबंधनों और ितों का
ऄनुपालन दकया गया ह,ै जवस्ट्तार दकया जाएगा और जवस्ट्तार दकया गया समझा जाएगा” ;
और, खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) की धारा 8(क) की
ईपधारा (4) यह ईपबंध करती ह ै दक : “पट्टा कालावजध के ऄवसान पर पट्टे को आस ऄजधजनयम में जवजनर्ददष्ट प्रदिया के
ऄनुसार नीलामी के जलए प्रस्ट्ततु दकया जाएगा” ;
और, खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) को खजनज जवजध (संिोधन)
ऄजधजनयम, 2020 (2020 का 2) द्वारा संिोजधत दकया गया तथा, ऄन्द्य बातों के साथ, काननू ी ऄनापजियों के ऄन्द्तरण के
जलए ईपबंध से संबंजधत नइ धारा 8ख ऄन्द्तःस्ट्थाजपत की गइ ;
और, खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) की धारा 8ख की
ईपधारा (2) ईपबंध करती ह ै दक आस ऄजधजनयम या तत्समय प्रवृि दकसी ऄन्द्य जवजध म ें ऄतं र्ववष्ट दकसी बात के होत े हुए
भी, धारा 8क की ईपधारा (5) और ईपधारा (6) के ईपबंधों के ऄधीन ऄवसान होने वाल े खनन पट्टों के सफल बोली लगान े
वाले और आस ऄजधजनयम और तद्धीन बनाए गए जनयमों के ऄधीन ईपबंजधत प्रदिया के ऄनुसार नीलामी के माध्यम स े
चयजनत बोली लगाने वाल े में सभी जवजधमान्द्य ऄजधकार, ऄनमु ोदन, ऄनापजि, ऄनुज्ञजप्त दो वषा की कालावजध के जलए वैस े
ही जनजहत समझे जाएंग े जैसे पवू ा पट्टाधारी में थ;े
और, खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) की धारा 8ख की
ईपधारा (3) ईपबंध करती ह ै दक तत्समय प्रवृि दकसी ऄन्द्य जवजध में ऄंतर्ववष्ट दकसी बात के होते हुए भी, नया पट्टा प्रारमभ
होने की तारीख स े दो वष ा की कालावजध तक, नए पट्टाधारी के जलए ऐसी भूजम पर खनन सदं ियाएं जारी रखना जवजधपूण ा
होगा जजस पर पूवा पट्टाधारी खनन संदियाएं कर रहा था ;
और, खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) के पूवोक्त संिोधन के
ऄनुसरण में, इअइए ऄजधसूचना, 2006 का संिोधन ऄजधसूचना संखया का.अ. 1224(ऄ), तारीख 28 माचा, 2020 द्वारा
दकया गया जजसमें यह जनदेजित दकया गया दक खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का
67) की धारा 8क की ईप-धारा (5) और ईप-धारा (6) के ईपबंधों के ऄधीन ऄवसान होन े वाले खनन पट्टे का सफल बोली
लगान े वाला और ईस ऄजधजनयम के ऄधीन और तद्दधीन बनाए गए जनयमों के ऄधीन ईपबंजधत प्रदिया के ऄनुसार नीलामी
के माध्यम से चयजनत नया पट्टा के प्रारमभ की तारीख से दो वषा की ऄवजध के जलए पवू ावती पट्टेदार पर जनजहत पूव ा
पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि जवजधमान्द्य ऄर्वजत दकया गया समझा जाएगा और यह नया पट्टा प्रारमभ की तारीख से दो वषा की
ऄवजध के जलए या ईसमें ईजल्लजखत जनबंधनों ितों के ऄनुसार नया पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि, नया जनकासी ऄजभप्राप्त होने
तक, आसम ें से जो भी पूवातर हो, ईक्त पट्टा क्षेत्र पर पूवावती पट्टेदार का स्ट्वीकृत पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि के जनबंधनों और ितों
के ऄनुसार जनरन्द्तर खनन संदिया नया पट्टेदार के जलए जवजधपूण ा होंगी ; परन्द्त,ु सफल बोली लगान े वाला नया पट्टा मंजूर
करने की तारीख से दो वषा की ऄवजध के भीतर जवजनयामक प्राजधकरण से पूवा पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि के जलए अवेदन करेगा
और ऄजभप्राप्त करेगा;
और, खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) का एक बार पुनः संिोधन
खान और खजनज (जवकास और जवजनयमन) संिोधन ऄजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 16) द्वारा दकया गया जजसम ें धारा 8ख
का संिोधन यह ईपबंध करन े के जलए दकया गया दक “आस ऄजधजनयम या तत्समय प्रवृत दकसी ऄन्द्य जवजध में दकसी बात के
होते हुए भी, दकसी खान के संबंध में पट्टेदार को ऄनुदि सभी जवजधमान्द्य ऄजधकार, ऄनुमोदन, ऄनापजियां, ऄनुज्ञजप्तया ं
और वैसे ही ऄजधकार (ईनसे जभन्न जो परमाणु उजाा ऄजधजनयम, 1962 और तद्धीन बनाए गए जनयमों के ईपबंधों के ऄधीन
ऄनुदि दकए गए ह)ैं पट्टा के समाप्त या ईसके पयावसान होने के पश्चात् भी जवजधमान्द्य बने रहगें े और ऐसे ऄजधकार,
ऄनुमोदन, ऄनापजियां, ऄनज्ञु जप्तयां और वैसे ही ऄजधकार आस ऄजधजनयम के ऄधीन ऐसी जवजधयों में ईपबंजधत ितों के
ऄधीन रहत े हुए नीलामी के माध्यम से चयजनत खनन पट्टे के सफल बोली लगाने वाले को ऄन्द्तररत हो जाएंग े और ईनम ें
जनजहत हो जाएंग”े ;
और, केन्द्रीय सरकार इअइए ऄजधसूचना, 2006 के सुसंगत ईपबंधों को पूवोक्त संिोजधत खान और खजनज
(जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) के साथ सुयोजजत करना अवश्यक समझती ह ै।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का राजपत्र : ऄसाधारण 3
ऄतः, ऄब, केन्द्रीय सरकार, पयाावरण (संरक्षण) ऄजधजनयम, 1986 (1986 का 29) की धारा 3 की ईपधारा (1)
और ईपधारा (2) के खंड (v) द्वारा प्रदि िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, इअइए ऄजधसूचना, 2006 में जनम्नजलजखत और
संिोधन करती ह,ै ऄथाात् :--
ईक्त ऄजधसूचना के परै ा 11 में, ईप-पैरा (3) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत ईप-पैरा रखा जाएगा, ऄथाात ् :--
“(3) पूवावती पट्टेदार म ें जनजहत पूव ा पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि, ऄन्द्तररत पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि की सभी ितों का
ऄनुपालन करन े के पररवचन के साथ नए पट्टेदार द्वारा पररविे पोटाल पर अनलाइन रजजस्ट्टर करन े के ऄधीन
रहत े हुए, नए पट्टे के अरमभ की तारीख से (ईस तारीख स े संगजणत जजसको ईक्त पयाावरणीय ऄनापजि अरमभ
में ऄनदु ि की गइ थी) िेष वैधता ऄवजध के जलए खनन पट्टों के सफल बोली लगान े वाले को खान और खजनज
(जवकास और जवजनयमन) संिोधन ऄजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 16) द्वारा यथासंिोजधत खान और खजनज
(जवकास और जवजनयमन) ऄजधजनयम, 1957 (1957 का 67) के जनबंधनानुसार आसकी वैधता ऄवजध के दौरान
ऄन्द्तररत की गइ समझी जाएगी” ।
[फा. सं. जडै -11013/47/2018-अइए.II(एम)]
डॉ. सुजीत कुमार बाजपेयी, संयुक् त सजचव
रटटपण : मूल ऄजधसूचना भारत के राजपत्र में ऄजधसूचना सखं या का.अ. 1533(ऄ), तारीख 14 जसतमबर, 2006 द्वारा
प्रकाजित की गइ और ईसका ऄंजतम सिं ोधन ऄजधसूचना सखं या का.अ. 2339(ऄ), तारीख 16 जून, 2021
द्वारा दकया गया ।
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th July, 2021
S.O. 2817(E).—WHEREAS, by notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry
of Environment and Forests number S.O.1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006 issued under
sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,
read with clause (d) of the sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 (hereinafter
referred to as the EIA Notification), the Central Government directed that on and from the date of its
publication, the new projects or activities or the expansion or modernisation of existing projects or
activities listed in the Schedule to the EIA notification entailing capacity addition with change in process or
technology and/or product mix shall be undertaken in any part of India only after obtaining prior
environmental clearance from the Central Government or as the case may be, by the State Level
Environment Impact Assessment Authority, duly constituted by the Central Government under sub-section
(3) of section 3 of the afore said Act, in accordance with the procedure specified therein;
AND WHEREAS, The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide judgment dated the 7th February, 2018 in
Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) No. 32138 of 2015 in the matter of Goa Foundation versus M/s Sesa
Sterlite Ltd., &Ors., inter alia, has directed to obtain fresh environmental clearance to those who are
successful in obtaining fresh mining leases;
AND WHEREAS, the sub-section (6) of section 8A of the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) provides that: “Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (2),
(3) and sub-section (4), the period of lease granted before the date of commencement of the Mines and
Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 (10 of 2015), where mineral is used for
other than captive purpose, shall be extended and be deemed to have been extended up to a period ending
on the 31st March, 2020 with effect from the date of expiry of the period of renewal last made or till the
completion of renewal period, if any, or a period of fifty years from the date of grant of such lease,
whichever is later, subject to the condition that all the terms and conditions of the lease have been
complied with”;4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
AND WHEREAS, the sub-section (4) of section 8A of the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) provides that: “On the expiry of the lease period, the lease shall be put
up for auction as per the procedure specified in this Act”;
AND WHEREAS, vide the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020 (2 of 2020), the Mines and
Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) was amended and, inter alia, new section
8B relating to the provisions for transfer of statutory clearances was inserted;
AND WHEREAS, sub-section (2) of section 8B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) provided that notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any
other law for the time being in force, the successful bidder of mining leases expiring under the provisions
of sub-sections (5) and (6) of section 8A and selected through auction as per the procedure provided under
this Act and the rules made there under, shall be deemed to have acquired all valid rights, approvals,
clearances, licences and the like vested with the previous lessee for a period of two years;
AND WHEREAS, sub-section (3) of section 8B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) provided that notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for
the time being in force, it shall be lawful for the new lessee to continue mining operations on the land, in
which mining operations were being carried out by the previous lessee, for a period of two years from the
date of commencement of the new lease;
AND WHEREAS, pursuant to the aforesaid amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development
and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), the EIA Notification 2006 was amended vide notification number
S.O. 1224(E) dated the 28th March, 2020 wherein it was directed that the successful bidder of the mining
leases, expiring under the provisions of sub-sections (5) and (6) of section 8A of the Mines and Minerals
(Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) and selected through auction as per the procedure
provided under that Act and the rules made thereunder, shall be deemed to have acquired valid prior
environmental clearance vested with the previous lessee for a period of two years, from the date of
commencement of new lease and it shall be lawful for the new lessee to continue mining operations as per
the same terms and conditions of environmental clearance granted to the previous lessee on the said lease
area for a period of two years from the date of commencement of new lease or till the new lessee obtains a
fresh environmental clearance with the terms and conditions mentioned therein, whichever is earlier:
Provided that the successful bidder shall apply and obtain prior environmental clearance from the
regulatory authority within a period of two years from the date of grant of new lease;
AND WHEREAS, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957)
was once again amended vide Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021
(16 of 2021) wherein section 8B was amended to provide that “Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Act or any other law for the time being in force, all valid rights, approvals, clearances, licences and the like
granted to a lessee in respect of a mine (other than those granted under the provisions of the Atomic Energy
Act, 1962 and the rules made thereunder) shall continue to be valid even after expiry or termination of lease
and such rights, approvals, clearances, licences and the like shall be transferred to, and vested; subject to
the conditions provided under such laws; in the successful bidder of the mining lease selected through
auction under this Act:”
AND WHEREAS, the Central Government deems it necessary to align the relevant provisions of
the EIA Notification 2006 with the aforesaid amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation)
Act, 1957 (67 of 1957).
Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2)
of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government, hereby
makes following further amendments in the EIA Notification, namely:-
In the said notification, in paragraph 11, for sub-paragraph (3), the following sub-paragraph shall
be substituted, namely:-
“(3) The prior Environmental Clearance vested with the previous lessee shall be deemed to have
been transferred during its validity period in terms of the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) as amended by the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021 (16 of 2021) to the successful bidder of the mining leases, from[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का राजपत्र : ऄसाधारण 5
the date of commencement of new lease for the remaining validity period (calculated from the date
from which the said Environmental Clearance was initially granted), subject to the new lessee
registering online on PARIVESH portal along with an undertaking to comply with all the
conditions of the transferred Environmental Clearance”.
[F. No. Z-11013/47/2018-IA.II(M)]
Dr. SUJIT KUMAR BAJPAYEE, Jt. Secy.
Note : The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, vide number S.O. 1533(E),
dated the 14th September, 2006 and was last amended vide the notification number S.O. 2339(E),
dated the 16th June, 2021.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.