Distinguished Chair,
Thank you Chair for allowing me to present my delegation?s views on the issue of
mining. We fully appreciate and value the Report brought out by the Secretary
General on the subject.
We have a broad based mining Industry in India which has made significant
contribution to the livelihood of millions and fuelled our economic growth and
development. Secretary General?s report mentions that mining activities in a
number of cases have generated few or limited benefits to producing countries in
terms of economic growth and poverty reduction; our experience, Mr. Chairman
has been somewhat different. True, we do have socio-economic issues to address
which have sprung up due to non-sustainable and intensive mining practices. We
are working to establish greater forward linkages with indigenous mineral and
metal industry to make mining a sustainable activity.
We agree with the assertion in the Report that the legacy of abandoned mining
sites and quarries bears witness to the unsatisfactory environmental performance of
the industry in the past. To our understanding, this problem needs to be tackled
right at the point when environmental clearances are being granted for mining
projects. India has successfully evolved a robust system of environmental
clearance with effective checks and balances including for mining in forested
areas. We do, however, recognize that the implementation of the monitoring
conditions stipulated in these clearances require greater efforts. Since mining
activities are mostly carried out in remote and far-flung areas, institutional
innovation and creation of empowered monitoring authorities along with a system
of quick judicial redressal has to be evolved to take care of issues at hand.
We are aware that reclamation and restoration of land after mine closure remains a
challenge. Capacity building of mining companies along with greater adoption of
corporate social responsibility and technology application would be helpful in
rectifying the situation. We have seen the efficacy of GIS/GPS based monitoring
mechanisms for effective regulation in such projects.
Thank you.
