EJNC asks Govt to review SOPs for granting of prospecting license, mining lease for coal 

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 5, 2023

The East Jaintia National Council (EJNC) has sought the intervention of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma for reviewing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for granting of prospecting license or mining lease for coal in the state of Meghalaya.

In a memorandum submitted to Sangma on Friday, EJNC said,  “(We) earnestly request your esteemed office to review the above said Office Memorandum on the minimum requirement of land for coal mining from 100 hectares to below 100 Hectares and an Agreement between Landowner and Applicant, where the Applicant is not the owner of the Land in question so as to enable the common people to apply a relevant permit for coal mining activity in the state of Meghalaya and Jaintia Hills District in particular.”

It said the people of the district has been facing a lot of problem since the time the Government of Meghalaya came up with the SOPs in the Office Memorandum (OM) dated 5th March 2021.

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“The SOPs for granting of mining Lease in respect of coal, with minimum requirement of Land which is not less than 100 hectares and an Agreement between Land Owner and Applicant will not be benefited to the local land owners,” it said adding that since, 100 hectares of land is way too much for a single local tribal to acquire the same. It also observed that majority of the local tribal owns a land less than the prescribed SOPs (100 hectares). 

The organization said in the Chapter I of the above said Office Memorandum (OM) in Para D (Checklist), it has mentioned that “An Agreement between Landowner and Applicant, where the Applicant is not the owner of the Land in question”.

“Since the prescribed SOPs is not very clear about the word “Applicant who is not the land owner”. Such SOPs will pave way for the applicant who is a non-tribal/company to enter into agreement with a local land owner for undergoing coal mining activities,” It said.

The Memorandum further said  “This kind of agreement will take away the rights of the local people who depends their livelihood from coal mining and its related activities. Further, the EJNC is of the contention and that the said clause should also kindly be reviewed by your esteemed office as to allow only local tribal to make an agreement among them and not with Non – Tribal. 

Furthermore, if the above said clause is not reviewed by your esteemed office, the same will further encourage the big companies to acquire a huge land and monopolize the coal mining and other related activities in the district. Whereas, the common people who is not in position to acquire the prescribed minimum land for coal mining will be highly affected.”