Shillong, September 10: A central team is likely to visit Meghalaya in October to assess the feasibility of scientific coal mining in the state, Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla said on Thursday, following what she described as a positive response from the Centre.
Shylla said a meeting on the issue was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Mines. The meeting was attended by officials of Meghalaya’s Directorate of Mineral Resources, Law Secretary CVD Diengdoh and representatives of CMPDIL. “The meeting was very progressive. Our officers have been following up on scientific coal mining in Meghalaya. We gave them a presentation and CMPDIL also presented what is feasible, especially in East Jaintia Hills,” Shylla told reporters.
She said the Centre appeared positive about the proposals and indicated that a team could visit Meghalaya to assess mining conditions and feasibility on the ground. The meeting, she said, was a follow-up to a memorandum earlier submitted to the Centre by her along with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
Shylla said one of the key demands in the memorandum was to reduce the minimum land area requirement for scientific mining and allow a system more suited to Meghalaya’s unique landholding pattern. “Open-cast mining is not feasible in Meghalaya because it is expensive and could lead to environmental degradation. Land ownership here is largely private and individual, and therefore individual licensing should be considered,” she said.
Shylla said communities in coal-producing areas have faced financial hardship since restrictions were imposed on coal mining and added that the state government has been making sustained efforts to facilitate the resumption of regulated and scientific mining.
She claimed that the Centre’s response this time has been particularly encouraging. “Since 2019, this is the first time the Government of India has been very positive. The Chief Minister has been continuously pursuing the matter and we are supporting him in every possible way,” she said. While no date has been finalised, Shylla said the proposed visit by the central team is likely to take place in October.
