Coal mining in the coal-rich East Jaiñtia Hills is set to resume next year after nearly seven years of coal mining ban in the State imposed by National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Today, the Ministry of Coal has granted mining licenses and allocated coal blocks to two coal barons Nehlang Lyngdoh and Thomas Nongtdu.
While Lyngdoh was given one coal block to carry out mining, Nongtdu got two coal blocks.
Coal mining operations in the three blocks will start in 2022 as per the approved mining plan.
Both Lyngdoh and Nongtdu have expressed gratitude to the Central government for allowing coal mining to resume in the State after it was banned in 2014.
They also said that this would reopen job opportunities for thousands of people who have been rendered jobless due to the coal mining ban.
