India is reclassifying key minerals like Barytes, Felspar, Mica, and Quartz from “minor” to “major,” signaling a significant shift in how the nation manages its critical resources for a clean energy future.
Understanding Minor Minerals
In India, “minor minerals” are typically defined under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957. This includes common items like building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, and sand.
Despite the name, their classification isn’t based on quantity or availability. The Supreme Court clarified in 2000 that minerals are categorized as major or minor based on their end-use and local importance, largely for administrative convenience.
While the Central Government oversees major minerals of national strategic importance like coal or iron ore, state governments traditionally manage minor minerals. However, the Centre can declare other minerals as “minor,” and has done so for around 31, including Gypsum, Mica, and Quartz.
The Vital Role of Minor Minerals
Minor minerals are crucial for India’s infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, supporting local economies. They are extracted from diverse locations like riverbeds, hills, and quarries across states.
For instance, silica-rich minerals like Quartz are vital for glassmaking and electronics. Sand is a fundamental component for concrete and asphalt, essential for roads and buildings. Feldspar, Mica, and Kaolin are widely used in ceramics, paints, and rubber industries.
Recently reclassified Barytes is primarily used in oil and gas drilling. These locally sourced minerals, often extracted on a smaller scale, are indispensable for India’s rapid construction and industrial growth. However, their extraction, especially in sensitive areas, poses serious environmental and regulatory challenges.
Regulating India’s Mineral Wealth
India’s Constitution grants states the power over mines and minerals. Yet, the Central Government can also legislate on the matter if it’s deemed in the public interest, which led to the MMDR Act in 1957.
This Act categorizes minerals and outlines the framework for mining leases and royalty collection for major minerals. Critically, Section 15 of the Act empowers state governments to create their own rules for minor minerals, allowing them to tailor regulations to local needs.
Given their environmental impact, minor minerals are also subject to various pollution, wildlife, and biodiversity protection laws. While the Centre historically focused on major minerals, growing environmental concerns, particularly regarding sand mining, have prompted central guidelines and frameworks.
Key Judicial Interventions
Courts and tribunals have played a pivotal role in shaping minor mineral regulation. In the landmark Deepak Kumar vs State of Haryana (2012) case, the Supreme Court mandated environmental clearances for all mining operations, even small ones, to curb illegal and unscientific practices.
The court emphasized the need for a compulsory mining plan before granting clearances and stressed the importance of sustainable extraction methods.
Later, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) reinforced these principles. In Himmat Singh Shekhawat vs State of Rajasthan (2014) and Satendra Pandey vs Union of India (2018), the NGT struck down notifications that tried to dilute environmental clearance procedures for minor mineral mining, ensuring stricter oversight.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Despite existing regulations and judicial interventions, illegal and unscientific mining remains a widespread issue across states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. This practice leads to severe environmental degradation, including falling groundwater levels, water pollution, and disruption of aquatic ecosystems, directly impacting species like the Gharial and Ganges River dolphins.
Beyond environmental harm, illegal mining often results in law-and-order problems, with violent clashes and threats against activists and officials. Addressing these challenges requires strong political will and bureaucratic enforcement.
Upholding the “Public Trust Doctrine,” the state must act as a trustee of these valuable resources, ensuring mining leases truly serve public interest. Moving forward, strict enforcement, sustainable construction practices, and exploring viable alternatives to natural resource extraction are crucial. A harmonized, comprehensive regulatory framework across states is needed to ensure transparency and integrate environmental safeguards with development goals.
- India is reclassifying specific minor minerals to major status for strategic reasons related to clean energy and new technologies.
- Minor minerals, though locally managed, are vital for infrastructure and industry, but their unregulated extraction causes significant environmental damage.
- Both state and central governments regulate minerals, with courts pushing for stricter environmental clearances for all mining operations.
- Illegal mining persists, leading to ecological harm and social unrest, underscoring the urgent need for robust, harmonized regulations and sustainable practices.
The reclassification reflects a growing recognition of these minerals’ strategic importance and the need for more stringent, nationally coordinated governance.
