Exemptions for Mineral Exploration Drilling on Forest Land

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Union Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has approved enhanced exemptions for mineral exploration drilling in forest areas.
  • The decision follows requests from the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Mines, given the high proportion of mineral-rich zones located within forest cover.

Background

• In 2023, the Forest Conservation Act 1980, was amended to provide exemptions for exploratory drilling on forest land.
• The latest decision expands these exemptions to facilitate mineral and coal exploration, critical for India’s energy and resource security.

Key Policy Decision

• Borehole Limit: The ministry will now allow 62 to 80 bore holes of up to 6-inch diameter per 10 sq km, for survey and explorations under the exemption category, depending on the type of mineral deposits or ore explored.
  • Bore holes are narrow, deep holes drilled into the earth to explore minerals, ores or oil and gas.
• As per the existing guidelines under the forest conservation law, drilling of up to 25 bore holes per 10 sq km and 80 shot holes per sq km, along with felling of up to 100 trees in the said area was exempted from forest clearance.

Environmental Safeguards

• Limited Working Hours: Drilling allowed only between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to align with wildlife activity cycles.
• Site Restoration: Boreholes must be plugged with cement after completion.
• Restriction Zones: No drilling in ecologically sensitive areas such as:
  • Critical wildlife breeding and nesting habitats
  • Water sources and riparian ecosystems
  • High-biodiversity patches
  • Areas with endangered/endemic species
  • Culturally or religiously significant forest sites

Objectives and Need

• Critical minerals push: Many critical minerals (e.g. rare earths, lithium, cobalt, nickel) crucial for clean energy and defence are found in forest regions.
• Ease of Doing Business: Removes delays caused by repeated central clearances for temporary surveys.
  • Encourages private sector participation and investment in mining exploration.
• Support for economic growth: Minerals feed into infrastructure, manufacturing, defence, and green technologies.
  • Faster exploration leads to quicker project development, cost efficiency and attracts investment in mineral exploration.

What are the Concerns?

• Ecological impacts: Drilling noise and vibrations can disturb wildlife movement patterns.
  • Risk of contamination of forest streams through oil/grease or debris.
• Compensatory measures insufficient: Current norms require compensatory afforestation for felled trees.
  • But biodiversity loss, old-growth canopy destruction, and cultural value cannot be fully offset.
• Overlap with the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: FRA gives legal recognition to the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
  • If exploration is treated as “forest activity” (not diversion), then community rights and consent requirements may be bypassed.
• Bypassing Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 scrutiny: Traditionally, any activity on forest land that was not directly linked to forest conservation required central government clearance under the FCA.
  • The reclassification of  mineral exploration as a “forest activity” has raised concerns.

Way Ahead

• Strict enforcement of conditions: Ensure boreholes are temporary, properly cement-plugged, and sites restored.
  • Conduct independent monitoring using satellites and third-party audits.
• Adopt advanced exploration technology: Use remote sensing, ground-penetrating radar, drones, and geophysical imaging.
  • Reduce the need for excessive drilling by narrowing down target zones.
• Strengthen ecological safeguards: Develop nationwide maps to identify no-go zones such as biodiversity hotspots, breeding areas, and sacred groves.
  • Impose stricter safeguards in ecologically sensitive regions.
• Improve compensatory mechanisms: Ensure compensatory afforestation uses native species and includes long-term monitoring. There is a need to Go beyond tree-count compensation by valuing biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Source: IE