Shillong, Jun 11: The state government is waiting for a comprehensive list of suggestions from coal associations of Meghalaya before taking these to the central government in a bid to relax coal mining prerequisites.
The state government has come under pressure from the mining lobby to try and reduce the rules regarding so-called scientific coal mining. The chief gripe is that the land holding requirement is too great for all but the wealthiest magnates to meet, which is keeping smaller players out of the industry.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said that, especially in Jaintia Hills, stakeholders are saying that the present scientific mining plan is not feasible and therefore the state has asked them to suggest alternatives.
Rat-hole coal mining was the prevalent extraction method until the practice was banned by the National Green Tribunal in 2014. These rat holes are dangerous to miners’ lives and pollution is a major problem. The scientific rules were meant to make things safer and less polluting.
Rat holes were employed as cheaper than open cast operations. They were also more appropriate because the coal seams in Meghalaya tend to be thin.
Open cast mining under the new rules is expensive and coal barons have requested the government to reexamine this aspect.
