An amendment to the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession (MMMC) Rules 2016 will ease concerns raised by small-scale miners, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said in response to opposition MLA Heavingstone Kharpran in the Assembly today.
The Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator had questioned the state government on its efforts to review the MMMC Rules. The government formed a committee last year to review the issue.
Sangma explained that the existing rules mandate specific criteria for quarry and mine size, along with various permits, making compliance challenging for traditional and small-time miners. He noted that numerous individuals from constituencies like Nongstoiñ and Mawkynrew had approached the government with concerns about these stringent provisions.
To address these issues, the government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong on September 16, 2024. The committee, composed of MLAs, officials from the Mining, Forest and Law Departments, as well as stakeholders like miners’ representatives, has conducted two meetings so far. Based on the discussions, the committee has recommended a simplified procedure for granting traditional quarry permits. According to Sangma, the proposed process would require only a forest permit and a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the local headman certifying undisputed ownership of the land.
The government is now seeking concurrence from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to waive the requirement for environmental clearance for traditional and small quarry operations. The CM stated that under the Environment Protection Act 1986 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) rules of 2006, amended in 2016, the state government can declare certain activities as non-mining with the approval of MoEFCC. The government is actively pursuing this exemption, as many village-level miners struggle with the bureaucratic hurdles of the current regulations.
On being asked about the timeline for resuming mining and quarrying in the state, Sangma clarified that mining activities have not been halted. He stated that anyone can apply for a mining license or quarrying permit but the challenge lies in the cumbersome documentation process. The government is working on streamlining this procedure to make it more accessible for small-scale miners.
Kharpran also raised concerns about alternative livelihood options for those dependent on mining and quarrying. Sangma responded that the government is actively promoting agriculture, food processing and tourism as sustainable livelihood alternatives. However, he acknowledged that transitioning from mining to other sectors takes time.
Regarding the delay in the release of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund, the CM assured that the fund is regularly disbursed by a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner, with MLAs as members.
