Speed Post News Network
New Delhi: A new web portal was launched on Tuesday for online submission and monitoring of environmental approvals for mining of sand and minor minerals.
Launching the web portal at a workshop on mining of sand and minor minerals here, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said that the web portal will lead to the empowerment of the project proponent as it not only enhances transparency of the entire application process, but also enables the proponents to track their applications online. Terming it a revolutionary measure, the Minister said that the web portal is a district-level web-based and role-based workflow application for online submission and monitoring of proposals for Category B’2’projects.
Earlier, addressing the workshop on mining of sand and minor minerals, the Environment Minister emphasised that that the government has changed the whole system of distribution of natural resources. Javadekar said that technological tools like satellite mapping will be used for identifying spots where sustainable sand mining can be allowed. He said that satellite mapping and bar-coded receipts will help in curbing illegal sand mining and illegal transportation of sand.