SHILLONG:
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on May 20 urged the state government to bring necessary amendment to the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016.
In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, KHADC chief executive member Titosstarwell Chyne said, “I would like to suggest to the Government of Meghalaya to bring necessary amendment to the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules 2016 to ease the difficulties faced by the general public and institutions like dorbar shnong, VEC etc. and also to ensure that the people depending on mining for their livelihood will not be affected.”
He informed that the general public, the local authorities who implement various developmental schemes like dorbar shnong, VEC etc and the people who are earning their livelihood by engaging in traditional mining/extracting of minor mineral have faced difficulties and hardship in getting minor minerals like sand, stone etc due to the stringent provision of the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rule, 2016.
The CEM said that the individuals who are also applying for mining and quarry permits are also facing difficulties as the authorities did not recognise the land documents issued by the traditional institutions like the dorbar kur, dorbar shnong, dorbar raid and dorbar hima to prove the ownership of their land and the authorities also ask for the registered deed before the sub-registrar which are very expensive.
The KHADC has sought amendment of Rule 3, Rule 6 and Rule 24.
“In rule 3 of the said rules as amended after sub-rule (iii), the following new sub-rule shall be added, namely: (iv) Excavation of ordinary earth or clay or sand or masonry stones by manual mining. (vi) Customary extraction/mining of ordinary earth or clay or sand or masonry stones from sources situated in villages for personal use or community work in village; (vii) Extraction/mining of ordinary earth or clay or sand or masonry stones Community works like de-silting of village ponds or tanks, construction of village roads, ponds, bunds undertaken in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment and Guarantee Schemes, other Government sponsored schemes, and community efforts.
In rule 6 of the principal rules, for clause (e) after sub-clause (vii), the following words shall be added that is (viii) Land document issued by the Traditional Institutions i.e. Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid, Dorbar Hima and the Autonomous District Councils.
In rule 24 of the principal rules, for clause (d) after sub-clause (vii), the following words shall be added that is (viii) Land document issued by the Traditional Institutions i.e. Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid, Dorbar Hima and the Autonomous District Councils, it said.