KOLKATA (miningweekly.com) - India’s Mines Ministry has started the implementation of a Star Rating System of mines across the country, based on their adherence to the Sustainable Development Framework (SDF), laid down by the government.

A draft of the rating system, along with a standard template for the evaluation of operational parameters for mines, has been circulated among various stakeholders in the mining industry for feedback and comment.

The rating system was first conceived several years ago by mining advisory and monitoring agency Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).

As per the draft circulated among stakeholders, every mine operational for a minimum of 180 days would require the mining leaseholder to submit details as per the standard template and secure attestation of the same by designated agencies and organizations on submission of fees.

The designated agencies proposed included, mining industry body Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), premier mining educational institute Indian School of Mines, Indian Institute of Technologies at Kharagpur and Varanasi and mining departments of other Indian engineering colleges.

Following the attestation, a provisional rating would be accorded to the mine, subject to final physical verification and validation of all information by IBM.

The SDF evaluation of each mine would be dependent on the impact of the mining level in carrying out scientific and efficient mining, addressing social impacts of resettlement and rehabilitation of local populace before starting mining operations, local community engagements, steps on final mine closure and reporting processes as per international standards.

However, the SDF is still not clear on the action that would come into play in the case of mines that were accorded low star ratings.

A section of the Mines Ministry has proposed that those mines awarded a low star rating of one or two stars would be given a specific timeframe to improve mining practices and in the case of failure to adhere to the timeline, the mine would be forced to close down.

But according to a Ministry official, this provision was expected to not find favour with a section of the small miners and a final decision was still awaited.

Another aspect flagged by environmental activists in a submission to the Ministry was the non-inclusion of minor minerals from the purview of the rating system - the system had been proposed only in the case of major minerals.

It had been pointed out that minor minerals, such as granite and sand, all of which were largely confined to small and unorganised mining, were the biggest violators of environmental and sustainable mining laws and keeping these outside the rating system would defeat the purpose of putting the rating system in place.

From the Ministry’s point of view, minor mineral mining fell within the governance jurisdiction of the provincial governments and it could be proposed that the rating system be adopted by provincial governments and extended to minor minerals, the official added.