SHILLONG, MAY 2: A state committee for preparing comprehensive report on measures to be initiated by Meghalaya government for scientific mining which will be put before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was constituted on Friday.
Additional chief secretary KS Kropha heads the committee. The committee will guide line departments to come up with a comprehensive rule as part of the scientific mining that will be placed before the NGT.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said the submission of the report on scientific mining is part of NGT ruling that needs to be submitted at the earliest.
In its April 17 order, the NGT directed chief secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure that rat-hole mining/illegal mining is stopped throughout the state. It also directed that illegal transportation of coal should not be allowed till further orders passed by the NGT.
The NGT order came after the All Dimasa Students’ Union had approached the tribunal on April 2 alleging that illegal rat-hole mining in Jaintia Hills was to be blamed for polluting the Kopili River and turning its water acidic.
Sangma told reporters after three hours long cabinet that the department had been working for framing of rules in line with the mining policy, he informed, “Therefore lots of work has been done, and what is require to be done now is to look at how we place all those measures already initiated and taken by the department to give effect to the objective of having scientific mining conforming to various statutory rules available in the country.”
Sangma said even though the state government is yet to receive the NGT ruling officially, but the cabinet has already directed the concern department not to wait for the ruling to be issued by the registry as it might take time, but apply for the certified copy of the ruling so that measures required to be taken by the government can be examined and according government can prepare its stand.
Sangma said mining in the state has been there for a very long time and the state government has also initiated various measures to implement the Meghalaya Mines and Mineral Mining Policy notified in 2012 that seeks to facilitate scientific mining and also conforming to various statutory rules. – By Our Reporter
