Highwall mining only alternative to rat-hole mining of coal in Meghalaya: NGT panel

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 22, 2019

SHILLONG: The three-member National Green Tribunal (NGT) committee headed by retired Justice BP Katakey is of the opinion that introduction of ‘highwall mining method’ is the only alternative to unscientific rat-hole mining of coal in Meghalaya. 

“It appears that the highwall mining is the only alternative to this rat-hole mining because that is the scientific way of doing it,” Katakey said after chairing a review meeting held here on Monday. 

According to him, this method would require the use of machines for extracting the coal. 

Referring to the recent Supreme Court’s judgment which lifted the ban on coal mining imposed by the NGT for the past five years while upholding the land tenure system that land belongs to the people, the chairman however said the problem is that a land owner may not be in a position to undertake this scientific way of mining because of the costing part of it which is about Rs 130 crore.

“Therefore, they have to form a society or cooperative,” he suggested while adding because the mine owners and land owners will have to be approached by the state government for introducing this method. 

“If the mine owners and land owners do not agree I don’t think scientific way of mining is possible in the state of Meghalaya,” he added. 

Katakey further informed that the committee has also directed the Commissioner & Secretary in charge Mining and Geology to submit a report indicating the decision taken by the state government on the report of the Meghalaya Minerals Development Corporation (MMDC). 

He said a group of ministers had visited some areas in USA where scientific way of mining is going and they have submitted a report but till today nothing is known what was the decision taken at that point of time by that government.

“We have asked the Commissioner & Secretary to let us know what was the decision taken on this regard,” he said. 

Asked, the chairman of the committee said the state government has been asked to explore the possibility of introducing the highway mining method in the state. 

“They (govt) have to take a decision on that report because ultimately state government has to discuss the matter with individual land and mine owners, then only it will be possible,” he added.