Rajasthan: Supreme Court Provides Extension for Quarry License Holders Seeking Environmental Clearance
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Synopsis
The Supreme Court has granted a two-month extension for minor mineral lease and quarry license holders in Rajasthan to obtain environmental clearance. This new deadline is now set for May 31, 2025, allowing operators to comply with necessary regulations.
Key Takeaways
- SC grants two-month extension for clearance
- New deadline set for May 31, 2025
- SEIAA coordinating with government for approvals
- Ongoing support for mine holders
- Significant progress on Form 2 submissions
Jaipur, March 27 (NationPress) The Supreme Court (SC) has provided a two-month extension for minor mineral lease holders and quarry license holders in Rajasthan with holdings up to five hectares to secure environmental clearance (EC) from the state-level committee.
This extension is applicable to those who had already obtained environmental clearances at the district level. The new deadline is now established as May 31, 2025.
The Principal Secretary of Mines and Petroleum, T. Ravikant, indicated that this relief was granted following a special mention application from the Rajasthan government to the SC.
He emphasized that the state government is actively working with the State-Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to facilitate the environmental clearance process, noting that the government is also making persistent efforts to provide relief to mine holders. Coordination is continuously being carried out with the SEIAA to attain the environmental clearances.
Additionally, Pratap Meena, an SME-level officer, has been designated as the nodal officer to oversee coordination among the government, Mines Department, and SEIAA.
At the local level, officials are collaborating closely with mine holders to finalize required formalities and speed up approvals.
Deepak Tanwar, the Director of Mines, updated the status of the Parivesh Portal, revealing that SEIAA has validated 22,700 mine lease and quarry license holders, directing them to upload Form 2.
To date, 19,038 mine holders have submitted Form 2, and 6,814 holders have successfully received their environmental clearances from SEIAA.
He further mentioned that efforts are ongoing to ensure that the remaining mine holders complete their applications and obtain approvals from SEIAA and the State Expert Committee (SEC).
The state government’s proactive approach and effective advocacy have secured necessary time and assistance for mine operators to comply with environmental regulations, as stated by officials.
