The government today said that Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) was looking at a case of forfeiture of financial assurance by Hindalco Industries for not complying with norms while closing its operations in Amarkantak mines in Madhya Pradesh.
"One case of non-compliance of mine closure plan by Hindalco Industries in Amarkantak bauxite mine has come to the notice of Indian Bureau of Mines, where the case of forfeiture of financial assurance is with Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)," Mines Minister B K Handique said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
If any company to which mining lease is given, does not carry out protective, reclamation and rehabilitative measures, the financial assurance can be realised by the state government, the minister said.
To ensure proper closure when operations are abandoned at mines, the government has made it mandatory for companies to submit progressive and final mine closure plan for proper reclamation and rehabilitation of the area held under mining lease.
Under the progressive mine closure plan, the mining lease holder has to indicate protective reclamation and rehabilitative measures that are to be adopted in a gradual manner, while the final mine closure plan entails the company submits measures taken after the closure of mining operations.
There are 82 abandoned mines in the country, which exist prior to framing of rules for progressive mine closure plan and final mine closure plan, he added.
