Centre approve Meghalaya govt’s SOP for mining lease: CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 10, 2021

Meghalaya is all set to soon start scientific mining of coal after the Centre has approved the state government’s standard operating procedure (SOP) for granting prospecting license and mining lease.

“I am very happy to inform this august House that the Central government has approved the SOP prepared by the state for granting prospecting license and mining lease,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said while tabling the budget in the Assembly on Wednesday.

According to him, this is the first significant step for beginning scientific coal mining in the state

Earlier while replying to the Governor’s address, the chief minister said that the SOP will enable the government to shorten the process of getting the prospecting license and mining lease as he informed that applications from 20 people have been received so far.

“This is for the first time that the Centre is allowing the state government to grant prospecting license…(which means) it has recognized that the land and the minerals belongs to the people of the state,”he said

Stating that auctioning of the 2 lakh metric tons out of the 32 lakh metric tons of coal has started, Sangma said in the first auction, about 54,000 metric tons of coal from East Jaintia Hills and about 9,000 metric tons from SouthGaro Hills are put up for e-auction.

He informed that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Committee has also agreed that the base price of coal will be at Rs 4,850.

He further informed that 18 integrated check gates would be set up within 6 months adding their setting up would go a long way in plugging the loopholes in the system (and prevent revenue leakages).

On the other hand, the chief minister said that it is high time that the entire perception of negativity and illegality on anything around coal should go. He was referring to the repeated allegations against illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state.

Sangma said that the government has taken all steps to ensure that the movement of coal trucks are done with proper documentation.

“Over 3 lakh metric tons of coal (unclaimed and seized) has been auctioned from which Rs 70 crore was collected as revenue for the state,” he informed.

Stating that he is not denying that there are no illegal activities related to coal, the chief minister however maintained that strict action has been taken leading to over 250 cases being filed against people involved in such activities.

“Unlike earlier where people were only booked under sections of the IPC, it is only in March 2019 that we had invoked sections of the MMDR Act whereby people found involved in such illegal acts would be imprisoned for five years…this reflects seriousness of our government,” he stated.

The chief minister also maintained that the NGT ban on coal mining was already lifted by the Supreme Court.

“This government filed a case (before supreme court) and could lift the ban within 1 year 3 months but promise made that within 180 days had never come out from my mouth,” he said while asking those alleging this to do their home work properly.

Regarding the green funds, Sangma said the Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund (MEPRF) amounting to Rs 445 crore, CAMPA funds at Rs 163 crore and Meghalaya Minor Minerals Reclamation Fund (MMMRF) at Rs 90 crore will be used for restoration and improvement of environment in a comprehensive manner.