The Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) of the Union Coal Ministry has informed that no coal production has been reported during the last four years from Meghalaya.
This was stated by Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi in a written reply to the query by BJP MP Rakesh Sinha in the Rajya Sabha today.
He also informed that the estimated coal resources in Meghalaya, as per Coal Inventory of India published by Geology Survey of India (GSI) as on April 1, 2021 is 576.48 metric tons.
Joshi also said that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its order dated June 9, 2014 has noticed that there has been serious air, water and environmental pollution being caused by the illegal, unregulated and indiscriminate rat-hole mining being carried on in various parts of the Meghalaya.
He also said that in order to preserve the ecology of Meghalaya, the Supreme Court in its judgment dated July 3, 2019, has made four important decisions.
Joshi said that as per the apex court’s verdict, the provisions of the Mines Act, 1952 are mandatorily to be followed before working a mine in Meghalaya. The Coal Mines Regulations, 2017 also contains several regulatory provisions which need to be followed while working a mine by a mining lease holder.
The Union Minister also said that the enforcement of Mines Act, 1952 and the Regulations, 2017 have to be ensured by the State government in public interest.
“As per statutory regime brought in force by notification dated January 15, 2016 issued under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, environmental clearance is required for a project of coal for mining of any extent of area. While implementing a statutory regime for carrying mining operations in the Hills Districts of the State of Meghalaya, the State of Meghalaya has to ensure compliance of not only MMDR Act, 1957 but Mines Act, 1952 as well as Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,” Joshi said.
He also said that in hill districts of Meghalaya, for carrying coal mining operations in privately owned or community owned land, it is not the State government which shall grant the mining lease under Chapter V of Rules, 1960, but it is the private owner or community owner of the land, who is also the owner of the mineral, who shall grant lease for mining of coal as per provisions of Chapter V of Rules, 1960 after obtaining previous approval of the Central government through the State government.
Joshi also said that the State government has been implementing an action plan prepared by the committee constituted by the NGT to close down the openings of mines which were created before the ban imposed by the NGT in 2014.
“The State government is putting in place the safety measures around mine openings where there are still mineable coal reserves which can be utilised in future in accordance with law,” he added.
