Four out of seventeen miners are all set to be granted licenses to start scientific mining of coal in Meghalaya after their respective geological reports were given the necessary approval by the Centre.
Informing this in Shillong on Monday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters that the Union Coal Ministry has finally given the state government in writing that the geological reports submitted by four miners have been approved by the Government of India.
“This is one step away from the mining license to now be given. Hence, these four applicants will submit their mining plans as per the norms laid down by the Government of Meghalaya and the Government of India,” Sangma said.
“We expect that the licenses should shortly be given to these four miners. Hence, this is a major step towards now opening up mining in a scientific manner. We are very hopeful that very soon the scientific process for mining will start in the state,” he added.
Stating that it has been a very long and tedious process, the chief minister said, “It requires us to, first of all, lift the ban, create the SOPs, there were certain terms and conditions that were laid down by Government of India which we have to fulfil, prospecting licenses have to be done, geological surveys and reports have to be made – so a lot of works have to be put into.”
On the other applicants, Sangma said, “The others will follow but what is important is that the process has now started.”
On the demand to amend SOPs since the minimum requirement of land is not less than 100 hectares for granting of mining lease, the chief minister however said that the SOPs are being prepared in consultations with the Government of India.
