Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today urged miners of minor minerals to obtain leases as per the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules.
“I would encourage those who own stone quarries to obtain mining leases and not practise illegal mining,” Tynsong said during the handing over ceremony of an ambulance by the Ri-War Mihngi Miners Association.
Mining degrades the environment, but practising mining under the rules will at least mean that the land will be restored by the government once the quarry in question is exhausted through the funds collected through the concession rules.
Tynsong said that the purpose of this reclamation fund would be to undertake activities directed towards rectifying the damage caused to the environment due to mining activities.
He urged the owners of quarries that have been exhausted to hand over such land to the government so that it will redevelop and beautify them.
“The land will always belong to you. All the government wants is to afforest these places wherever possible,” Tynsong said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also urged the Ri-War Mihngi Miners Association to donate at least 10 per cent of the profit that they make to develop the Pynursla region.
