Shillong, Feb 9: With 22,000 coal mine openings in East Jaintia Hills alone, closing them off with a view to reclaim the land may prove exorbitantly expensive.
According to the Justice (retd) BP Katakey committee on coal’s 35th interim report, estimated costs of a pilot project at two sites in EJH and South Garo Hills could cost over Rs 1 crore to close off just 51 mine openings.
The projected costs are Rs 755.32 lakh for 17 mine openings in Sutnga, EJH, and Rs 412.94 lakh for 34 mine openings in Arengittim, SGH. These figures were provided by the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd, the company tasked with the pilot project.
“There being more than 22,000 coal mine openings in East Jaintia Hills district alone, the committee is of the view that other methods of closure of the mine openings also need to be explored, so that the mine openings could be closed expeditiously and with reasonable expenditure,” Katakey said in the 35th interim report, which was prepared on January 27.
He recommended that the Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts submit proposals for closing mine openings locally with involvement of village headmen and the public within 30 days.
