Maarg Manthan · Topic 17.15

EIA Sectoral Analysis: Mining, Agricultural and Industrial Sectors

Environment & Ecology › Environmental Acts, Policies and EIA · Topic 17.15

EIA applies differently across sectors, depending on the project type and its size thresholds in the Schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006. In the mining sector, mining of minerals with a lease area of 50 hectares or more is Category A, and leases between 5 and 50 hectares are Category B, while the Notification includes also coal and lignite mining, sand mining and mineral beneficiation; the main impacts are land clearing, water, dust, and displacement, and mining projects need mining plans, forest clearance and mine closure plans. In the agricultural and water sector, large irrigation and river valley projects are covered (for example, hydroelectric projects of 50 MW or more and irrigation projects with a command area above 10,000 hectares are Category A), and aquaculture and other farm-related projects are mostly not covered unless they involve related infrastructure; impacts include submergence, changes to river flow, waterlogging, salinity and fertiliser and pesticide pollution. In the industrial sector, thermal power plants of 500 MW or more, steel and cement plants, petroleum refineries, chemicals, fertilisers, pesticides, sugar, distilleries and paper and pulp mills are covered, with high impacts on air, water and waste; these need pollution control, effluent treatment, zero liquid discharge and hazardous waste plans. Thresholds are amended, so check the current Schedule.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Environmental Acts, Policies and EIA

At a Glance

Mining A 50 ha or more
Hydro A 50 MW or more
Thermal A 500 MW or more
Irrigation A Over 10,000 ha command
Check Thresholds change
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Environmental Acts, Policies and EIA

Where Does It Fit?

This is the last topic of the macro on environmental acts, policies and EIA. It applies the EIA framework to mining, agriculture and water, and industry, and leads into the macro on international environmental governance. Previous topic: Drawbacks in the EIA Process and Recommendations for Improvement. Next topic: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

How Does EIA Apply to Mining, Agriculture and Industry?

Sector	Coverage, thresholds and key impacts
Mining	Mining of minerals: 50 ha or more is Category A; 5 to 50 ha is Category B; also coal, sand and beneficiation; impacts on land, water, forest, dust, noise, displacement; needs forest clearance and closure plans
River valley and irrigation	Hydroelectric projects of 50 MW or more and irrigation with command area above 10,000 ha are Category A; smaller ones are Category B; impacts on submergence, flow, silting and resettlement
Agriculture and allied	Few farm activities are listed; aquaculture, farms and agro-processing are mostly outside unless large industry such as sugar or distilleries is involved; impacts include chemicals, water use and land change
Thermal power	Plants of 500 MW or more are Category A; smaller are B; impacts include emissions, ash, water use and heat
Industry	Refineries, chemicals, fertilisers, pesticides, steel, cement, paper and pulp, tanneries; impacts on air, water and hazardous waste
Infrastructure	Highways, airports, ports and townships also listed with thresholds
Common conditions	Pollution control equipment, green belts, rainwater harvesting and local employment

What Issues and Safeguards Arise by Sector?

Mining issues: forest loss, groundwater pumping, dust, mine dumps, illegal mining
Mining safeguards: mining plan, progressive closure, reclamation, afforestation and tailings management
Water and farm issues: submergence, displacement, siltation, waterlogging, salinisation
Water safeguards: resettlement and rehabilitation plan, environmental flows, catchment area treatment
Industrial issues: air and water pollution, hazardous waste, heat, accidents
Industrial safeguards: effluent treatment, zero liquid discharge, stack emissions control, hazardous waste management and disaster plans
Cumulative load: clusters of plants or mines need regional carrying capacity studies
Monitoring: compliance reports and online emission monitoring

What Else Should You Remember?

Schedule categories: the 2006 Schedule lists 39 items under 8 groups, including mining, power, primary processing, materials, manufacturing, service and infrastructure
Mining thresholds: mining leases of 50 ha or more need central clearance, and smaller ones state clearance
Minor minerals: sand and stone mining under 5 ha need state clearance, with District Environment Impact Assessment Authorities for small leases
Coal mining: projects above set production limits are Category A
Mining plan: required under the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules
Forest clearance: needed for mines in forest land
Gram Sabha consent: needed in forest rights areas for some diversions
Mine closure: plan with financial guarantee
Hydropower: run-of-river projects still alter river flow
Narmada and Tehri: large river valley projects with displacement issues
Irrigation EIA: covers command area impacts such as waterlogging
Agriculture: farm-level impacts are managed through other policies
Aquaculture: shrimp farming is restricted in CRZ areas
Pesticide units: listed industries with hazardous waste
Sugar and distillery: listed because of effluent
Thermal power: needs fly ash utilisation and FGD
Steel and cement: high dust and emissions
Refineries: volatile organic compound emissions and oily sludge
Chemical industries: hazardous waste and accident risk
Pulp and paper: high water use and effluent
Industrial estates: need common effluent treatment
Link to previous: see Drawbacks in the EIA Process and Recommendations for Improvement
Link to next: see United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Link to mining: see International and Indian Laws Regulating Mining Impact; Sustainable Mining
Caution: thresholds and categories are amended often, so check the current EIA Schedule
Exam hint: learn at least one threshold for each sector and the main impacts and safeguards

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Mining A: 50 ha
Hydro A: 50 MW
Thermal A: 500 MW
Current affairs link: Coal block clearances
Common errors: assuming all farm projects need EIA

As an analytical point, mining, water and industrial projects carry the largest environmental footprints, so they hold the main thresholds. Sector-specific conditions, cumulative studies and strong monitoring are most important in these sectors.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Mining Land, forest
Water Flow, displacement
Industry Air, waste

What Came Next?

The next macro covers international environmental governance and conventions, starting with UNEP and UNDP. Next topic: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Key People and Terms

Category A Central clearance
Command area Irrigated land
ZLD Zero liquid discharge
FGD Flue gas desulphurisation
R&R Resettlement and rehabilitation
Closure plan Post-mining plan

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Mining: 50 ha for Category A.
Hydro: 50 MW.
Thermal: 500 MW.
Irrigation: 10,000 ha.
Few farm activities are listed.

Do Not Confuse With

Category A and B for mining 50 ha or more versus 5 to 50 ha
River valley and thermal thresholds 50 MW versus 500 MW
EIA and forest clearance Assessment versus forest diversion

Memory Hook

Fifty hectares for mines, fifty megawatts for hydro, five hundred for thermal.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for thresholds and impacts. These points help.

Mining Land, forest
Water Flow, R&R
Industry Air, waste

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss how the EIA framework applies to the mining, agricultural and industrial sectors, with their key impacts and safeguards.”

How to Answer

Thresholds Per sector.
Impacts Per sector.
Safeguards Conditions.
Gaps Cumulative.

GS Relevance

Prelims: sector thresholds, project types. GS Paper 3: sector-wise EIA issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does EIA apply to mining projects?

Mining projects of minerals with a lease area of 50 hectares or more are Category A and need central clearance, while those between 5 and 50 hectares are Category B and are handled by state authorities. They need an EIA, public hearing, mining and closure plans, forest clearance where forest land is used, and conditions on dust, water and reclamation.

Are agricultural projects covered by EIA?

Most farm activities are not covered, but water-related projects such as large irrigation and river valley schemes are. Irrigation projects with a command area above 10,000 hectares and hydroelectric projects of 50 megawatts or more are Category A. Agro-processing industries such as sugar mills and distilleries are covered because of their effluent.

Which industrial projects need EIA?

The EIA Schedule covers thermal power plants, refineries, chemical and fertiliser plants, pesticide units, steel and cement plants, pulp and paper mills, tanneries, sugar mills, distilleries, mineral-based industries and industrial estates, with thresholds for capacity or size. Thermal plants of 500 MW or more are Category A.

What conditions are typically imposed on industrial projects?

Clearances usually require installation of air and water pollution control systems, effluent treatment and zero liquid discharge where needed, safe handling of hazardous waste, green belts, rainwater harvesting, disaster management plans, regular monitoring of stack and effluent quality, and spending on local development. Projects must report compliance every six months.

Why is cumulative impact important in the sectoral EIA?

Mining, hydro and industrial projects are often clustered in one region or river basin, so the combined load on air, water and ecosystems may exceed the carrying capacity even if each project looks acceptable alone. Regional or cumulative studies help set limits and avoid overloaded areas such as coalfields or river basins with many dams.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Mining leases of 50 ha or more are Category A.

True

Central clearance.

2 All farm projects need EIA.

False

Most are not covered.

3 Thermal plants of 500 MW or more are Category A.