Shillong, June 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday said the state government has received a positive response from the Centre regarding its request to permit smaller coal mines to operate, although final approval is still awaited.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said discussions with the Government of India are ongoing to allow coal mining in areas below the current 100-hectare requirement. “We are getting a positive response, but I would refrain from giving details right now until and unless we have the final clearance from the government,” the Chief Minister said.
Sangma stressed that the issue involves balancing the livelihood needs of local communities with environmental protection and the safety of miners. “There is no right answer to this. It will always be a challenge and we are working with constraints and difficulties. While coal mining is a livelihood aspect which is very important, we also have to balance the safety of miners and the impact on the environment,” he said.
The Chief Minister noted that scientific coal mining has already commenced in Meghalaya following approvals from the Centre. According to him, four large mining projects have received permission, with three already operational. “As of now, the larger mines, the 100-hectare mines, are being permitted by the Government of India. Four mines have been granted permission, out of which three are already active,” he said. Sangma added that scientifically mined coal from these projects is already being exported outside the state, indicating that the process has begun, though more work remains to be done.
He said the government’s primary concern is the large number of small miners who do not possess the land area required under the present regulations. “Our concerns are actually the small miners who do not have the requisite areas required. We are trying to address these challenges by seeking permission from the Government of India so that smaller mines can also be granted approval,” he said.
Referring to recent fatalities linked to abandoned mines, Sangma highlighted the scale of the legacy mining issue in the state. He said there are more than 21,000 abandoned mines in one district alone and an estimated 25,000 abandoned mines across Meghalaya. “It is almost next to impossible for us to monitor all these mines. These mines have been there for centuries, not only decades,” he remarked.
Reiterating the government’s approach, Sangma said the focus remains on achieving a balance between economic needs and safety concerns. “While we have to look at livelihood and take care of our people, we must also ensure the lives and safety of miners. We are working closely with everyone, including the Government of India, and we are hopeful that slowly and steadily we will be able to strike a much better balance,” he said.
The Chief Minister expressed optimism that continued engagement with the Centre will eventually lead to a framework that supports small-scale miners while maintaining environmental safeguards and safety standards.
