Parliament Question: Environmental Clearances for Balda and Serubandh Mining Projects

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3629 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 Environmental Clearances for Balda and Serubandh Mining Projects

3629. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether environmental clearances have been granted for the Balda and Serubandh Mining Projects in Koraput District, Odisha;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the present status of compliance with the conditions stipulated in the Environmental Clearances;

(c) whether any violations of Environmental Clearance conditions have been reported during the last five years; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government against the project proponents for such violations, if any? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (d) The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Odisha accorded Environment Clearance to Ballada Bauxite Mine (Mine Lease Area-144.945 ha) of Kalinga Alumina Limited for a production capacity of 4.0 MTPA Bauxite along with associated crushing and screening facilities of 800 TPH located at village Ballada, Tehsil Nandapur, District Koraput vide proposal number SIA/OR/MIN/536061/2025 dated 1st September, 2025 under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006. As per available records, Mining Lease for Ballada Bauxite Mine has not been executed by the State Government of Odisha. Consequently, no development or mining operations have commenced and, therefore, compliance or violations with respect to the prescribed Environmental Clearance (EC) conditions does not arise.

With respect to Serubandh Mining Project, MoEF&CC accorded Environment Clearance to Pottangi Bauxite Mine (Mine Lease Area-697.979 ha) of M/s. NALCO with production capacity of 3.5 Million TPA along with crusher of 900 TPH located at Pottangi Village, Pottangi Tehsil, Koraput District, Odisha vide proposal number IA/OR/MIN/416699/2023 dated 30th June, 2023 under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006. The mining lease of Pottangi Bauxite Mine has been executed on 13th June 2024 by Government of Odisha. However, the mine is yet to be operationalised. Therefore, compliance or violations with respect to the prescribed Environmental Clearance (EC) conditions does not arise.

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