Tapping technology to check minor mineral plunder

Source: The post is based on the article “Tapping technology to check minor mineral plunder” published in The Hindu on 8^th August 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Relevance: About illegal mining of minor minerals

News: The United Nations Environment Programme, in 2019, ranked India and China as the top two countries where illegal sand mining has led to sweeping environmental degradation.

Minor minerals such as sand and gravel have crossed 60 million metric tons in India. This makes it the second-largest extractive industry on the planet, after water.

Laws and monitoring have been made stringent for the mining of major minerals. But rampant and illegal mining of minor minerals continues unabated.

What are the impacts of illegal sand mining?

Severely affects soil formation and the soil holding ability of the land, leading to a loss in marine life, an increase in flood frequency, droughts, and also degradation of water quality.

These effects can be seen in the beds of the Godavari, the Narmada, Yamuna and the Mahanadi basins.

In Narmada basin, sand mining has reduced the population of Mahseer fish from 76% between 1963 and 2015.

Apart from these, illegal mining can also create losses to the state exchequer. For instance, U.P. is losing revenue from 70% of mining activities as only 30% area is legally mined.

How minor minerals are regulated?

Firstly, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notifications of 1994 and 2006 made environmental clearance compulsory for mining in areas more than or equal to five hectares.

Secondly, a report by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Environmental Aspects of Quarrying of Minor Minerals (2010) directed all State governments to make the requisite changes in the regulatory framework of minor minerals.

Thirdly, the Supreme Court of India after taking cognisance of a report directed state governments to make environmental clearance for mining in areas less than five hectares mandatory. Consequently, the EIA was amended in 2016.

The amendment also provided for the setting up of a District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) and a District Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).

Fourthly, the NGT directed some States to use satellite imagery to monitor the volume of sand extraction and transportation from the riverbeds.

What are the challenges in regulating minor minerals?

Not efficient regulation: State-wise review of EACs and EIAAs in key industrial States such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, shows that these authorities have a rejection rate of a mere 1%. So, introducing clearances alone can not help eliminate irregularities in the illegal mining of minor minerals.

A State-wide review of the reasons behind non-compliance suggests a malfunction of governance due to a) weak institutions, b) scarcity of state resources to ensure enforcement, c) poorly drafted regulatory provisions, d) inadequate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and e) excessive litigation dampens state administrative capacity.

Under-estimated quantity: The problem of illegal mining of minor minerals is often under-estimated. There have been numerous cases of the illegal mining of dolomite, marble and sand across the States.

No comprehensive assessment: This hampers the evaluation of the scale of sand mining in India.

Difficult to detect: Being removed from agricultural lands or fallow lands of the government near major highways or construction projects.

Power of state governments: The regulatory and administrative powers to frame rules, prescribe rates of royalty, mineral concessions, enforcement, etc. are entrusted exclusively to the State governments.

What should be done to protect minor minerals?

1) Satellite imagery can be used to monitor the volume of extraction and also check the mining process, 2) The NGT and administrative authorities can obtain satellite pictures for the past 10 to 15 years and show how small hillocks of earth, gravel or small stone dunes have disappeared in an area, 3) Drones, the internet of things (IoT) and blockchain technology can be leveraged to monitor mechanisms by using Global Positioning System, radar and Radio Frequency (RF) Locator.