Conrad-led Govt will ensure scientific mining of coal takes place in Meghalaya: Shylla

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 20, 2024

Cabinet minister and UDP leader Kyrmen Shylla on Wednesday said many have applied for prospecting license or mining lease which shows that they have the capacity to start the scientific mining of coal in an area not less than 100 hectares.

According to him, whether the 100 hectares is suitable or not in the case of Meghalaya, that will be known only after some of the miners (who were granted licenses) start the process of scientific mining of coal.

In July this year, the Meghalaya State Coordination Committee of the Coal Owners, Miners, Exporters, Transporters and Dealers Forum (MSCCCOETDF) had demanded the state government for immediate scrapping of the alleged “illegal” standard operating procedure (SOP) for granting prospecting license and or mining lease for coal in the state.

The SOP had indicated that grant of prospecting license and/or mining lease for coal in the state of Meghalaya shall be for an area not less than 100 hectares.

Seeking his comment on the issue, Shylla said, “Our (Govt) priority is to take care of the public, stakeholders, miners and whoever is involved and whoever requires our support, we are here to do it for them. (However), as of now, many have applied under this 100 hectares (criteria) so that shows some of them have the capacity.”

“So let this go like this and after that, the government will not sit idle. We will even try to help those who have a small land but as of now, we want to see if this scientific mining is applicable or not. We believe it is applicable. Let’s try it with this whatever, whoever applied and through them we get to know if it can be done in a smaller portion of land. As of now, we cannot say even if this 100 hectares is applicable or not, whether it will have profit or not. Based on that all calculations will be done and only after starting to implement the work we will get to know what else needs to be modified. The government is here, we will listen to the public and as per rules, we will do it legally for the people and I believe people will get the justification,” he stated.

Further, the cabinet minister expressed confidence that the government under the leadership of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma will soon ensure the start of scientific mining in Meghalaya.

“When it comes to coal, we have high hopes under the leadership of the chief minister. We have seen there are many steps, which are next to impossible, and they are made possible. For example the land, whatever minerals, especially coal, is not supposed to belong to individuals but under his leadership, he requested the central government and now we can claim this is my land and the minerals below it belong to me. Now, we become the owner of that coal or minerals inside which previously was not there. All these, the chief minister had tried his level best. All of us work hard together, we support each other and we have seen it is moving towards achieving it,” he said.

“We have high hopes under his (CM) leadership. If not today, tomorrow we will have it. It will be legalized. For now, we expect let it be at least one or two, we start then we will get to know whether we can follow it or not. If we cannot follow these rules then we will ask the government to modify it. I believe the central government will accept it. I feel until and unless we start it how will we know we can do it or not. Just presume it cannot be done without trying it,” Shylla further added.