Shillong, Sep 10: Officials from the Union Ministry of Coal are likely to visit Meghalaya to get a first-hand understanding of the difficulties the state is facing when it comes to scientific coal mining.
Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla held a video conference today with Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Coal, to follow up on the issue of scientific coal mining and to tweak national mining rules to suit local conditions.
Officials from the state Directorate of Mineral Resources and Law Secretary Cyril Diengdoh also attended the meeting.
Shylla described the interaction as positive and said state officials used the opportunity to follow up on the issue of scientific coal mining. Presentations were made by both the state government and the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited.
According to Shylla, the state outlined what is feasible in Meghalaya, with a special focus on East Jaintia Hills. “They (the central officials) were very positive about it and are likely to visit Meghalaya to see the practical functioning of coal mining here. Once they visit, they will understand the problems the state faces and decide on the way forward for scientific mining,” she said.
The meeting was a follow-up to the recent discussion led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma with the Union Coal Minister during which a memorandum was submitted for a reduction in the required land size, as open cast mining is neither feasible nor affordable in Meghalaya.
Shylla informed that central officials are inclined toward allowing scientific mining for individuals, given that most land in the state is privately owned.
She added that people in Meghalaya continue to face financial hardship due to the current constraints.
