Uttar Pradesh, which has about 4,000 mines of coal, silica, bauxite and granite – mostly in Bundelkhand region, has mandated e-tendering for future allotment of mining leases in the state.

This step is aimed at preventing hitherto rampant illegal mining and ushering transparency in allotment of mining leases. Under the system, lease holder will have to get environment clearance for mining within 6 months if the land area is more than 5 hectares (ha), whereas, in case of lease for mining of area of less than 5 hectares, environment clearance will not be required.

Farmers allege compensation not enough

A group of men is sitting under a grove, playing a game of cards at noon. Around them, thousands of acres of land, mostly arable, lie dotted with small hamlets. There are no roads, just dust tracks that wind around low limestone stocks and through dusty fields. This is Lohandiguda, where one of the world’s largest steel companies wants to build a five-million-tonnes-per-annum integrated steel plant. But the proposed Rs 19,500-crore Tata Steel project in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district has made little headway since the steelmaker signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government in June 2005.

SHILLONG: The State Government has taken exception to the delay by Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Ltd (LUMPL) in handing over the proposed land to allow the Government to start the process of compensatory afforestation.

As a penalty for carrying out limestone mining in forest land measuring about 116.589 hectare at Nongtrai Shella in East Khasi Hills district to facilitate supply of limestone to its cement plant located in Bangladesh, the Supreme Court in its ruling on July 6, 2011 had directed LUMPL to pay certain amount to the State Government for compensatory afforestation from April 1, 2007 towards Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

JOWAI: In a bid to check unscientific limestone mining in War-Jaintia, the Dolloi, Nongtalang Elaka on Saturday constituted a coordination committee headed by the Dolloi, Chui Pohlynjar and representatives from other villages as members of the committee.

The meeting was held at Unitarian Upper Primary School, Nongtalang and was attended by the Rangbah shnongs of five villages including New Nonglamin, Amsohmahalen, Shnong-Thmai and Nongtalang Mission besides the Tylli I Hun ka Nongtalang Organisation (TIHNO) and representatives of the War Jaintia Limestone- Boulder Stone Exporters Miners Association (WJLBEMA).

JOWAI: Unscientific limestone mining in War-Jaintia, Amlarem Sub-Division in Jaintia Hills has become a cause of concern for residents of Nongtalang village and its surrounding villages who are facing an impending water scarcity in the area.

A huge quantity of limestone is exported to Bangladesh via Tamabil on a daily basis which has encouraged individuals in the area to start limestone mining. The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council has so far issued 21 numbers of NOCs (No Objection Certificates) for extraction of limestone, 25 NOCs to exporters and another 12 to transporters.

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Jaipur:In a bid to make full use of the natural resources and enhance employment opportunities, the state government has decided to allot mining licenses of two major minerals, iron ore and limestone, only to those companies who are keen to set up plants or value addition processing units in the state.

Stressing on industrialisation and employment generation, there has been a major shift in the government’s policy of leasing out mines of iron ore and limestone. From now on the mining licenses of these two minerals will be issued to only to those companies who’ll use the cement grade limestone and steel grade iron ore only in cement and steel plants, respectively.

SHILLONG: The KSU’s Jaiñtia Hills district unit has decided to oppose Friday’s public hearing on the proposal of the Cement Manufacturing Company Limited (CMCL) to acquire more land for mining of lime stones in Lum Shnong area in Jaiñtia Hills.

The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) is scheduled to conduct the public hearing.