The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has exempted mining proposals of atomic, critical, and strategic minerals from public consultations in view of national defence and security requirements.

Key Provisions of the Exemption

• Central-Level Appraisal for Strategic Minerals: Mining projects of atomic minerals (Part B) and critical and strategic minerals (Part D) under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 (MMDR Act) will be appraised at the central level, regardless of project size or lease area.

• Sectoral Expert Appraisal: Projects will still undergo a detailed appraisal by the relevant sectoral expert appraisal committees.
• Legal Basis of Exemption: The exemption is granted under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, and its amendments, allowing projects related to national defence, security, and other strategic interests to bypass public consultation.
• Public Consultation Process: Public consultation under EIA is a legal requirement involving hearings and written responses to address the concerns of affected communities.

Rationale for the Exemption

• Defence Applications of Rare Earths: The Defence Ministry highlighted the use of rare earth elements in surveillance and navigational equipment, communication and display systems, mounting systems in armed vehicles, and precision-guided munitions.
• Strategic Supply Risk: Limited global supply of rare earth minerals creates a strategic risk, making steady domestic production essential.
• Atomic Energy Requirements: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) emphasized thorium from monazite as fuel for India’s third-stage nuclear programme and called for increased production of uranium and other minerals from new deposits.

Related Policy and Regulatory Measures

• Faster Appraisal and Approval: The decision aligns with earlier steps for faster appraisal and approval of critical and strategic mineral projects.
• Parivesh Portal: The Centre has created a separate category for critical minerals on the Parivesh online clearance portal.
• Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023: These Rules were amended to include critical and strategic minerals for expedited forest approvals.
• The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023: The act lists atomic, critical, and strategic minerals to specifically promote their exploration and mining.

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