Nagpur :- A discussion session on mining, organized by the Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED) on Saturday, 11th October 2025, at Narayani Memorial Hall, successfully addressed key concerns surrounding compensatory afforestation, a crucial requirement for mining and industrial projects. As per government regulations, any clearing of forest cover for such developments mandates afforestation on an equivalent piece of land elsewhere.
The session was graced by Chief Guest, Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Finance, Planning, Agriculture Rehabilitation, Law and Justice, Labour, Maharashtra State, and MLA, Ramtek Assembly Constituency.
A special highlight of the evening was the inauguration of the latest edition of “Progress Pulse”, VED’s monthly magazine.
The session began with welcoming remarks by VED President Rina Sinha, who set the tone for a focused and constructive dialogue on the policy and procedural aspects influencing the mining industry.
It was one of the most interactive sessions, marked by direct dialogue between mining leaseholders and those affected by mining activities. Jaiswal actively participated in these interactions and provided immediate solutions to the concerns raised.
Key speakers included Mr. Rajkumar Dongre, Adv. Harish Thakur, and VED Vice President B.K. Shukla. Their expert insights, along with engaging discussions throughout the session, aimed to positively shape mining policies and promote sustainable development in the Vidarbha region.
During the interactive Q&A with industrial stakeholders, Minister Jaiswal clarified that while compensatory afforestation land must ideally be adjacent to existing forests, it can be located anywhere within Maharashtra. To address confusion about the location requirements, he contacted local forest department officials during the session for real-time clarification. They confirmed that the land should typically adjoin existing forests, but there is flexibility in selecting locations across the state.
B.K. Shukla, VED Vice President and mining expert, emphasized that land acquisition for compensatory afforestation continues to be a major challenge for the sector.
While the rules allow afforestation anywhere in the state, authorities often insist on procuring land near the project site. Since most mining activity is concentrated in Vidarbha, acquiring suitable private land nearby becomes difficult,” he noted.
Rina Sinha, President of VED, highlighted that the Council has consistently advocated on behalf of the mining sector, with several of its suggestions already being incorporated into the state’s mining policies.
The session also marked the induction of new VED members: Bharat Khatrani, Satyanarayan Agrawal, Deepak Jaiswal, Pankaj Gautam, and speaker Rajkumar Dongre, into the VED Council.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by VED Secretary General, Ashish Sharma.
