Context:

• This article is based on an Editorial “Tapping technology to check minor mineral plunder” which was published in The Hindu. With the increase in the pace of development, the demand for minor minerals such as sand and gravel has crossed 60 million metric tons in India. 

Associated Laws and Regulations for Minor Minerals Industry in India:

• Power to Regulation: The regulatory and administrative powers to frame rules, prescribe rates of royalty, mineral concessions, enforcement, etc. are entrusted to the State governments.
• The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA): The earlier EIA Notifications of 1994 and 2006 made environmental clearance compulsory for mining in areas more than or equal to five hectares. 
  • Later, the EIA was amended in 2016 which made environmental clearance mandatory for mining in areas less than five hectares, including minor minerals. 
  • The amendment also provided for the setting up of a District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) and a District Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).

Illegal Mining of Minor Minerals in India and the Associated Concerns

• High Extraction: It becomes the second largest extractive industry on the planet, after water. 
• Illegal Mining: The rampant and illegal mining of minor minerals continues unabated.
• Irregularities in the Illegal Mining of Minor Minerals: A State-wise review of EACs and EIAAs in many states shows that the rejection rate of project proposals is mere 1%, which raises a question on elimination of irregularities in the illegal mining.
• Under-Estimation of the Problem of Illegal Mining of Minor Minerals: There have been numerous cases of the illegal mining of dolomite, marble and sand across States.
• Example: In Andhra Pradesh’s Konanki limestone quarries alone, 28.92 lakh metric tonnes of limestone have been illegally quarried. 
• Observations by the United Nations Environment Programme, in 2019: In India and China, illegal sand mining has led to sweeping environmental degradation. 
  • No Assessment: Despite this, there is no comprehensive assessment available to evaluate the scale of sand mining in India. 
• Regional studies by the Centre for Science and Environment: The study of the Yamuna riverbed in Uttar Pradesh have observed that increasing demand for soil has severely affected:
  • Soil formation and the soil holding ability of the land
  • Leading to a loss in marine life
  • An increase in flood frequency and droughts
  • Degradation of water quality
  • Study of the Narmada Basin: Sand mining has reduced the population of Mahseer fish from 76% between 1963 and 2015.

• Losses to the State Exchequer: As per an estimate, U.P. is losing revenue from 70% of mining activities as only 30% area is legally mined. 
  • Similarly, the absence of royalty has caused a loss of ₹700 crore in Bihar.
• Negligence of Judicial Orders: Judicial orders are often neglected by State governments. 
• • For instance, as in the report of the Oversight Committee by the National Green Tribunal, U.P. has either failed or only partially complied with orders issued regarding compensation for illegal sand mining. 
  • The same is observed in States such as West Bengal, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh too.
  • Reasons behind such non-Compliance: 
    • Malfunction of governance due to weak institutions
    • A scarcity of state resources to ensure enforcement
    • Poorly drafted regulatory provisions 
    • Inadequate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms 
    • Excessive litigation that dampens state administrative capacity

Navigating the Future: Technology-Driven Solutions for Sustainable Management of Minor Minerals

• Protecting minor minerals requires investment in production and consumption measurement.
• Need of monitoring and planning tools. 
• A robust technology-driven enforcement approach is required.
  • Drones, the internet of things (IoT) and blockchain technology can be used to monitor mechanisms by using Global Positioning System, radar and Radio Frequency (RF) Locator.