Tandon, who got here to take part in an tournament, stated, “We have requested the Ministry of Environment and Forests that the exploration activity should not be seen as a change in the forest area. We are consulting with them. This is part of a cabinet note and opinion has also been sought from the people.
The Ministry of Mines is of the view that the exploration need not end in the form of mining itself and the forest area discovered can be returned to its original form.
The Mines Secretary said, “We would like to say that in one out of every 25 or only one out of 50, the discovery results in the mining of minerals. Thus, in only one out of 50 cases, there will be any change in the forest area.
“In any such scenario, if the hunt process is excluded and it isn’t thought to be as a metamorphosis within the woodland space, then the hunt process can also be carried ahead,” he said.
More exploration is needed to make possible the auction of a greater number of mineral blocks and increase the potential for mineral production. But exploration work can be done in an area only when the presence of the mineral has been proved there.
Apart from this, according to the Ministry of Mines, it is also necessary to take forest clearance before starting mining work in an area.
