# Bauxite mining cleared 1.6 km from India’s first marine sanctuary 2026-08-09T06:09:10+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Union environment ministry's expert appraisal committee recommended environmental clearance on July 29 for a bauxite and marl mining project in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat, reports The Federal. The 5-hectare site lies 1.6 km from India's first marine wildlife sanctuary and 6 km from the country's first marine national park, both in the Gulf of Kachchh. The sanctuary and park host over 49 hard coral species, 23 soft corals, 70 sponge species, 421 fish species, and three sea turtle species. The project's environment impact assessment says the distance acts as a natural barrier and that regional impacts will not be critical for key habitat elements. The proponent, L and S Company, must still secure a wildlife conservation plan from Gujarat's forest department. ## Coverage - thefederal.com Tags: bauxite mining, coral reefs, environment clearance, Gujarat, Gulf of Kachchh, marine sanctuary Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bauxite-mining-cleared-1-6-km-from-indias-first-marine-sanctuary/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bauxite-mining-cleared-1-6-km-from-indias-first-marine-sanctuary/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.