Shillong, Aug 28: The state government has made it clear that no “traditional form of mining” of minor minerals can be exempted from legal perspective in Meghalaya.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said there is no scope under law for exempting any traditional form of mining of minor minerals from the operation and purview of the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules (MMMCR), 2016 or Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957.
Replying to a zero hour notice moved by BJP legislator from South Shillong Sanbor Shullai in the Assembly, Tynsong said, “The Rules and the unambiguous court rulings are binding on the state government which had promulgated Meghalaya Mineral (Prevention of illegal mining, transportation and storage) Rules, 2022 which do not permit any transport of minor minerals without securing transport challan which in turn would require that the stone boulder is sourced from a quarry or mine which has a legal mining lease or quarry permit.”
“On the face of all the aforesaid rulings of the High Court and Supreme court and the relevant Acts and Rules there is no scope under law for exempting any traditional form of mining of minor minerals from the operation and purview of MMMCR, 2016 or the MMDR Act, 1957 nor for transporting any minor mineral such as boulder stones, sand etc., without obtaining transport challan as prescribed under the Rules,”he said.
He said it is also of concern that violation of these Rules would amount to violation of the MMDR Act, 1957 which is an offence under Section 21 of MMDR Act, 1957.
Further, Tynsong assured that all steps would be taken to expedite granting mining lease or quarry permit to the applicants.
“The departmental staff would also be instructed to assist such individuals in helping them fill the relevant applications, and explain them the procedure involved for applying such permits.
After getting mining lease or quarry permit, the applicant would be entitled for Form-H under Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 for transporting the excavated boulder stone or any other minor mineral.
Thereafter, neither the miner nor the transporter would face any hurdle in either mining the boulder stone or transporting the boulder stone, he said.
Meanwhile, Tynsong aso informed that the government is also examining possibility of a single window agency.
