‘Many applicants for scientific mining in minimum 100 ha area’
Shillong, Nov 21: Defying apprehension, a lot of mining enterprises have come forward to take up scientific mining of coal in an area not less than 100 hectares.
Informing that many have applied for prospective license or mining lease, cabinet minister Kyrmen Shylla on Wednesday said feasibility of 100 ha for one entity would only be known once the selected enterprises started the mining process.
Earlier in July this year, Meghalaya State Coordination Committee of the Coal Owners, Miners, Exporters, Transporters and Dealers Forum (MSCCCOETDF) had demanded for scrapping of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for granting prospective license or mining lease that mentioned the minimum 100 ha criteria.
Referring to applicants ready to go for 100 ha mining, the minister, however, assured the mining entrepreneurs with small land holding of looking into the matter once feasibility of the 100 ha criterion is known to the government.
“As of now, we cannot say even if this 100 ha is applicable or not, whether it will have profit or not,” he said.
“We will listen to the public and as per rules, we will do it legally for the people,” he said.
He also exuded confidence that the government led by chief minister Conrad K Sangma would soon ensure the start of scientific mining in Meghalaya.
Appreciating the chief minister for his initiatives for miners, “When it comes to coal, we have high hopes under the leadership of the chief minister…he requested the central government and now we can claim this is my land and the minerals below it belong to me…previously it was not there.”
“If not today, tomorrow we will have it (resumption of coal mining),” he said.
‘Public to decide on railway line in EJ Hills’
Meanwhile, the cabinet minister said it is up to the people of East Jaintia Hills district to decide on the need for railway line in the region.
He, however, said the public meeting to solicit views and opinions of the stakeholders on the proposed railway project could not be held immediately due to paucity of time.
He assured that the meeting will be convened in due course of time.
He also made it clear that no development project, whatever profitable, should be implemented without consent of the people.
“If the people are not accepting it, we shouldn’t go ahead,” he said.
