10% of sale proceeds to be deposited with Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund
Shillong, Nov 23: Miners engaged in extraction of minor minerals would now have to part with at least 10% of their sale proceeds as compensation for damage caused to the environment.
The state government has already constituted Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF) for depositing the compensation to be invested for restoration of environment.
Forest and Environment department also asked the departments concerned and the user agencies to realise 10% of the rate of minor minerals from the bills of contractors.
The realised amount would be deposited in MMMRF’s bank account.
The Fund was constituted, as per a Meghalaya High Court order, to reclaim the damage caused to the environment as a result of mining activities, said an official.
High Court had directed that a sum to the extent of not less than 10% of the sale proceeds of the minerals extracted under the license or lease deed…shall be deposited by the exporter/miner of the minor minerals in the MMMRF.
Committee to simplify mining lease norms
Meanwhile, a special committee has been constituted by the forest department to simplify the process of obtaining mining lease or quarry permit.
The committee has been mandated to revisit the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules (MMMCR), 2016 to fulfill the purpose.
It was notified as Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 has mention about mining of minor minerals such sand, besides stone quarrying of these items.
Tynsong said he had instructed the Forest department and the Mining and Geology department to study further to east the norms.
Admitting that poor miners operating small sand or quarry often found it difficult to apply for mining lease, he said the next meeting of the committee will be held very soon.
