(a) whether mining activities are undertaken in several parts of the country including the tribal areas;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) the details of the welfare schemes/programmes undertaken by the mining companies in the tribal areas of the country alongwith the expenditure incurred thereon during each of the last three years and the current year;

(d) whether there are reports of protests by farmers/tribals against the acquisition of their land for mining;

(e) if so, the details thereof alongwith the number of complaints received regarding compensation to the affected persons including farmers and tribals in such areas during the said period, State-wise; and

(f) the details of the steps taken by the Government to protect the interests of farmers and tribals in this regard as per the obligations outlined in the National Mineral Policy, 2008?

THE MINISTER OF MINES AND MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE)

(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERED TO IN REPLY TO STARRED QUESTION NO. 321 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 17th AUGUST, 2010 REGARDING MINING ACTIVITIES

(a) & (b): Details of mining leases granted for undertaking mining in respect of major minerals (excluding coal, atomic, minor minerals) in the States including those with tribal areas are given in Annexure.

(c) : As per available information, some of the mining companies are contributing towards peripheral development around the mining areas, e.g. on housing, water supply, medical facilities, education etc. However, details of contribution of these companies for peripheral development are not centrally maintained, since the leases are granted by State Governments.

(d) and (e): State Governments grant mineral concessions as the owner of the minerals. Acquisition of land is also a subject matter of the State Governments. Since the acquisition is done by State Governments, relief and rehabilitations in such cases is as per the Relief & Rehabilitation Policy of the State Government concerned. However, recognizing the fact that the existing Mines and Minerals(Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 does not have adequate provisions to address the concerns of tribal people and other host population, Ministry of Mines is in the process of drafting a new law, which will better address issues relating to sharing of profits from mining operations and having a say with regard to mining activities. Several options in this regard are under consideration.

(f) : The National Mineral Policy, 2008, enunciates optimum utilization of resources, developing and enforcing a framework of sustainable development that ensures that mining activity takes place alongwith suitable measures for restoration of the ecological balance particularly in tribal and forest areas, and developing models of stakeholders interest based on international best practices and ensuring orderly and systematic mine closure to enable rehabilitation.
As per provisions of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988, all mining lease holders are required to prepare a Mine Closure Plan and submit financial guarantee for this purpose. The Government has also commenced preparation of a draft Sustainable Development Framework for ensuring sustainable mining in line with the direction contained in the National Mineral Policy, which will take into account the concerns of all stakeholders, particularly the tribals. The framework will be implemented through executive instructions and will be given statutory basis under the new law.


ANNEXURE MENTIONED IN STATEMENT TO STARRED QUESTION NO. 321 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 17th AUGUST, 2010 REGARDING MINING ACTIVITIES

STATE WISE DISTRIBUTION OF MINING LEASES GRANTED FOR UNDERTAKING MINING (EXCLUDING COAL, ATOMIC AND MINOR MINERALS)

Sl. 
No.	State 			No. of   Leases 	Lease area (Hect.)



1	ANDHRA PRADESH         	1578			54470.79
2	ASSAM 			8			929.50
3	BIHAR 			10			2030.16
4	CHHATTISGARH  		312			17650.66
5	GOA 			422			31457.43
6	GUJARAT 		1228			27962.54
7	HIMACHAL PRADESH        54			2027.18
8	HARYANA   		108			11471.52
9	JAMMU & KASHMIR         55			1814.75
10	JHARKHAND		323			36974.67
11	KARNATAKA		693			57398.26
12	KERALA			109			3042.12
13	MANIPUR			2			610.17 
14	MEGHALAYA		19			1433.97
15	MADHYA PRADESH          948			28442.41
16	MAHARASHTRA 		280			17703.21
17	ORISSA			387			67212.90
18	RAJASTHAN		2168			106848.85 
19	SIKKIM  		3			96.30
20	TAMIL NADU              482			6652.01 
21	UTTAR PRADESH           88			9290.11
22	UTTARANCHAL		69			3077.78
23	WEST BENGAL           	70			4090.10
	sum			9416			492687.39