JNC asks Govt to review SOPs for granting prospecting licenses, mining leases for coal mining

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 17, 2023

The Jaintia National Council (JNC) on Thursday demanded the State government to review the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for granting prospecting licenses and mining leases for coal mining.

In a memorandum submitted to the Secretary in-charge Mining and Geology E Kharmalki, JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh said, “The JNC is of the view that the State Government shall kindly take into consideration to reduce the required area of mining land from 100 Hectares to a considerable size of land so as to enable the aspired small coal miners to apply for mining lease in respect of coal mining activity in the district.”

Lyngdoh said that Kharmalki has informed the delegation that there will be a meeting between the State government and the Ministry of Coal India to discuss the issue and likely there will be a reduction in the area.

He said as per the survey conducted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dated December 31, 2018, it was found out that the small-scale mining of coal in Meghalaya began to flourish only in the mid-1970s, particularly in Khasi and Jaintia Hills regions. Further, the Jaintia Hills District was recognized as a major coal producing district in the state despite its less deposits.

He also said that the local coal miners and dealers of the region who have been engaging in the coal business activities for more than three decades will be deprived of their rights if the SOPs in the Office Memorandum is implemented as they are not in a position to possess such a huge area of land.