“The grant of the prospecting license is a stage before the grant of mining lease not thereafter. In normal circumstances, this area should have been taken back by the forest department,” points out the CEC.

• 125 hectares, iron ore mining, Bellary, Karnataka, Tungbhadara minerals.

The MoEF cleared 125 hectares of forest land in 1999. After considering the recommendations of the Conservator of Forests, Bellary, the FAC recommended diversion of additional 125 hectares of area from 10 to 20 years with effect from 1999, subject to necessary payments.

The recommendation was made without any formal proposal in the form prescribed under the FC Act. Despite the FAC recommendation, the MoEF did not grant clearance.

FAC reconsidered this in February 2006 and asked the state government to submit proposals in the prescribed format. The FAC then granted clearance.

“In the site inspection, it is seen that the company has not taken adequate protection, afforestation and soil conservation measures are inadequate,” says the CEC.

• 174 hectares, Belgaum Karnataka: Enercon

As per the prescribed format, land for compensatory afforestation was to be identified in Chitradurga district. However, that was not enclosed with the proposal. State Forest officials wrote that the project authority should make funds available for protection of forests to the extent of 100 m on either side of the wind turbine corridors. No guideline was followed and yet the clearance has been granted, says the CEC.