India has become one of the fastest growing and developing economy in the world. India, being enriched with variety of minerals, has witnessed increased activity in the field of mining to support the rapid economic development. The exploitation of natural resources and its impact on environment and ecology have become far more significant. There has been concerns on the adverse impact of mining on ecology, environment such as pollution of water, air and land affecting adversely the local communities as well as displacements of people. There is an urgent need to balance mining activities vis a vis protection of environment.The Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India is already focusing on Sustainable Development Framework (SDF) for Indian Mining Sector as a guiding principle for Indian mining industry encompassing inclusive growth, without adversely affecting the social, economic and environmental well-being, at present and also in future generation.
The Ministry of Mines has developed a credible system of evaluation of mining footprints and the first Piolt rollout of SDF was launched in the Sukinda Chromite mine of M/s. Tata Steel in Odisha by Sri Balvinder Kumar, Secretary (Mines) on 07.01.2016.The Ministry through Indian Bureau of Mines has developed a template for Scheme of Star Rating of Mines. The main objective of this system is to bring all mines to a minimum standard of Star Rating in the shortest possible time frame to adopt sustainable practices. A two layered system providing self-evaluation templates to be filled in by the mine operator followed by validation through Indian Bureau of Mines. Templates have been notified vide notification dated 23.05.2016.