SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on January 16, informed that Meghalaya is one step away from carrying out scientific mining after the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, approved the geological reports sent by four miners from Meghalaya.
“In the recent meeting held by the Government of India, the Ministry of Coal has finally given us in writing where the geological reports submitted by four miners have been approved,” Sangma told media persons on January 16.
The CM informed that the four applicants, approved by the Government of India, will submit their mining plan as per norms laid down by both the central and state governments.
“And we expect that licenses should shortly be given to the four miners. This is a major step towards opening up mining in a scientific manner and, I am hopeful that this scientific process of mining will start very soon,” he said.
It was informed that in March 2022, the central and state governments had framed a set of rules (Standard Operating Procedure) for mining and, so far, at least 17 miners have applied for a prospecting license and, the same were sent to the Government of India.
It may be reminded that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned coal mining in the state in 2014. The Supreme Court had in July 2019 lifted the NGT ban, stating that the local tribal people are the owners of their land and also the minerals beneath.
The SC had said that if coal mining is done under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Mineral Concession Rules 1960, the ban imposed by the NGT will not be applicable.