Rambrai Jyrngam MDC Bajop Pyngrope today lamented the limited role of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) when it comes to mining activities in the state.
He said that looking at the Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, the state government earns revenue through royalty, cess, GST, and the district mineral fund whereas the council only gets a share of the royalties.
“The District Council does not have any role on the mining policy neither the Meghalaya Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules nor the adoption of the IRA 1908 as notified in 1982,” the Congress MDC said in a motion moved today.
Stating that this limited role and share of revenue for the council is a great loss, especially since most of the land where the minerals are mined are under council jurisdiction, he questioned if the executive committee has also filed a review petition on the Supreme Court ruling from 2019 related to coal and the district council.
He also asked if the council is checking on the illegal mining and transportation of coal that has incurred further losses to the KHADC.
“We want the council to have shared not only in form of the royalty but also share from the DMF, cess, and GST,” he said.
In response, Gigur Myrthong, Deputy Chief Executive Member, who is also in charge of Mines and Minerals, stated that the council used to receive 40 percent of royalties, but this was reduced in 1995 to 25 percent.
No share of royalty has been paid by the state government to the KHADC for 2019-20 or 2020-21 and Myrthong said the EC will discuss these matters with the government.
