Govt resolves to come up with proper policies to end ban on coal mining

SHILLONG, APR 17: Resolving to end the ban on coal mining, the state government on Tuesday assured to come up with proper mechanism to ensure policies to protect the environment and miners are implemented properly and action is taken against those who are breaking the law.

“This government realizes the importance of the economic activity of coal mining in the state. We realize the importance of this resolution passed in 2015 which was to exempt the application of certain centre laws and we resolved today once again to continue working on this,” chief minister Conrad K Sangma said while making a statement in the Assembly here.

The resolution, which was brought by the then Congress-led state government and passed unanimous by the ninth Assembly in 2015, was to urge the Centre to invoke Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India through a presidential notification to exempt the state from the provisions of central laws.

These include rescinding the application of Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act, 1973, to the tribal areas of the state of Meghalaya.

The proposal was submitted by the state government following the blanket ban on unscientific coal mining by the National Green Tribunal on April 17, 2014, which has affected economy of the state and livelihood of thousands of people.

The chief minister informed that the royalty collected from coal used to be Rs 700 crore has seen a drastic drop after the ban (which completed four years today) besides affecting the money flow into the economy as a result of coal trading which was around Rs 4,000 crore.

“I assure that we are going to work towards it (resolution) and find way forward in this particular case but at same time ensuring that we take measures to ensure environment is protected and also miners are also protected that we will never compromised,” he said.

Having said this, Sangma also announced that the government will ensure that there are proper policies that are put in place to ensure environment as well as miners are protected besides a proper mechanism to ensure these policies are implemented properly and regularly check to see whether the people who are mining are breaking the law or not.

Stating the government is trying from all angles to ensure the economic activity of coal mining start again in the state, he however said that mining will not take place like it was done before as if economic activity and mining has to start, it must be with great responsibility.

“I am hopeful it will happen. We must realize that responsibility lies with each and every one of us to ensure whatever policies created are implemented and action is taken against those who don’t follow these policies,” he said.

“The miners themselves have to be responsible towards the environment and they themselves must realize that yes this is our bread and butter but we cannot compromise environment and safety of our people and our miners” he added.

Urging for concerted effort by all stakeholders, Sangma said, “We have to ensure all stakeholders must come together and if necessary compromise in certain situation, be responsible in our action and I am sure this will move forward and our state will flourish and will ensure environment and miners are protected.”

Earlier, the chief minister rued that there was no measures taken which had led to a number of rivers and waters being contaminated as the sulphur content went up, paddy fields were affected and there was no land reclamation done on the land that was used (for mining).

Pointing out there can be measures taken to ensure the impact is minimized and that can really strike a balance which the government is trying to achieve; he said it will be the endeavour of his government to ensure that at no cost should economic activities affect the environment.

Meanwhile, the chief minister informed that he had recently met the Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal at New Delhi and had detailed discussion on what will be the way forward to resolve the ongoing ban on coal mining in the state.

The minister had even expressed his concern about the environment and also safety of miners, he said while informing that some of the state government officials are still in the national capital having discussion with officials of the environment and coal ministries.

“A report will be submitted to us very soon,” he said.

Conrad further informed that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has also agreed to call for a joint meeting on the matter once the meeting with the two ministries – coal and environment – is done.

By Our Reporter