Shillong, Jun 3: The central government seems to be moving towards allowing smaller coal mines to operate in Meghalaya, though details of any permission is still awaited, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said today.
Currently, only so-called scientific mines on 100 hectares of land are eligible for a licence and just four such mines have been granted licences. The state government has been under pressure to get permission for smaller mining operations.
The CM said that Meghalaya has received a “positive response” from the central government on this.
“We are getting positive response but I would refrain from giving details right now until and unless we have the final clearance from the government,” Sangma said, referring to ongoing talks with the central government to permit mines below the current 100 hectare threshold.
Sangma said that a balance has to be struck between livelihood, safety and environment, with no answer being perfect.
Of the four scientific mines that have been licensed, three are operational.
“A large quantity of coal has already started being exported outside the state. So, the process has started but we have a long way to go,” he said. “Our concerns are actually the small miners, who are not having the kind of requisite area that is required, so those challenges are in the process, we are trying to address them by seeking permission from the government of India where smaller mines can be given permission.”
On the subject of deaths linked to abandoned mines, the CM highlighted the number of old mines in Meghalaya. “There are more than 21,000 abandoned mines just in one district (East Jaintia Hills) and if you put them all together in the state, there may be close to 25,000 mines,” he said.
“It is almost next to impossible for us to really go into all these aspects and these mines have been there for centuries not only decades,” he added while reiterating that the government’s approach hinges on balancing different priorities.
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers Association (JCMDA) said it is awaiting the government’s response to its three-month ultimatum on coal mining issues, even as it prepares a draft mining plan in consultation with miners from Khasi and Garo Hills.
The JCMDA passed a resolution on April 7 calling for smaller mines to be given the requisite permission and the association gave the government three months to bring this to fruition.
The association said it has prepared a draft mining plan after consultations with Deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar and Directorate of Mineral Resources and is now waiting for inputs from coal miners in Khasi and Garo Hills to compile a combined plan before submission to the state government.
