Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said that Kommorah Limestone Mining Company Limited needs to obtain new mining lease within the total area of 24.09 hectares and also spelt out that all the prior agreements and lease agreements are rendered null and void.
Sangma said this during his meeting with a delegation from Sohbar Elaka led by acting Sirdar I S Japang on December 7 to discuss the issue. The delegation was accompanied by Shella MLA Balajied Synrem.
The delegation met Sangma after officials from Bangladesh met him on November 29 requesting him to expedite the process of clearing the mining lease of Kommorah Limestone Mining Company Limited which has a mining operation under Sohbar Elaka.
Offended by such approach by the Bangladeshi officials, the Sohbar Elaka sought the attention of the chief minister to the various issues related to the mining lease of Kommorah Limestone Mining Company Limited.
During the meeting, it was agreed to have a joint inspection on the proposed mining lease area by officials of the government and the representatives of Sohbar Elaka.
It was also agreed in the meeting that the Directorate of Mineral Resources should not put any unwarranted and unreasonable objection to any individual who applies for mining lease in the area merely on the claim that the area falls within the old mining lease area of 240.55 hectares given to Kommorah Limestone Mining Company Limited.
This was because as per the present mining laws and rules, the area leased out to the company is only within the total area of 24.09 hectares.
It was also agreed that the no-objection certificate (NOC) cannot be given in the name of any individual representing the Kommorah Limestone Mining Company Limited but in the name of the company itself.