Star-rating system for mining leases soon

In a move to encourage greater environment-friendly initiatives by mine owners, the government proposes to introduce a star-rating system for lease-holders under which a maximum up to five stars could be granted to those mines which follow almost all the 60-odd criterion which are currently under formulation to ensure a cleaner environment.

With the Narendra Modi-led dispensation quite bullish on implementation of green norms and the environment ministry expediting clearances to long-stuck coal projects of Coal India Ltd (CIL), the star-rating system seems to be another step towards its various “good governance” initiatives.

The Prime Minister had formed several secretary-level committees earlier this year to come up fresh ideas on providing able administration. This initiative seems to be a result of those brainstorming sessions. According to highly-placed sources, the mines ministry would first encourage mine-owners to self-evaluate themselves as per the proposed criterion of environmental sustenance. Once the self-appraisal is done, a third-party evaluation would be facilitated by the government with the help of reputed organisations and after the completion of the entire procedure, the ratings would be given.

They added that the star-rating system has been proposed to be given to lease-holders for the efforts and initiatives taken for implementation of the Sustainable Development Framework.

According to some of the criterion which have been framed, their evaluation would be based on the management of impact on the mining level by carrying out scientific and efficient mining, and how the mine-holders have addressed the social impacts of resettlement and rehabilitation requirements while taking up mining activities in the concerned areas.

How much the lease-holders have engaged the local community (in the area where the mine is situated) in welfare programmes would be evaluated too. Other criterion include steps taken for progressive and final mine enclosure, overall reporting and adoption of international standards.