House approves resolution to move Centre for Prez notification
SHILLONG: The Assembly on Thursday passed a Resolution without discussion to enable the State Government to take up with the Centre the need to issue a Presidential notification to exempt central mining laws in the autonomous areas of Meghalaya under Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution in the context of the ban on coal mining in the State by the NGT.
Members of the House approved the Resolution without any discussion immediately after it was moved by the chief minister.
As per the Resolution, the State Government had submitted a proposal to the Centre to issue a Presidential notification in exercise of the powers conferred under Paragraph 12A (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India for exemption from the conditions of previous approval of the Central government laid down in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 as amended and also for the exemption from the operation of the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act, 1973 and Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 to the Autonomous Region (Scheduled areas) in the State of Meghalaya is concerned.
The State Assembly on March 23 this year had unanimously approved and adopted a Resolution to urge the Centre to consider the request of the Meghalaya Government favourably and issue a Presidential notification accordingly.
According to the chief minister, in pursuance of the March 23 Resolution, the State Government has considered to submit a specific proposal to the Centre to issue a Presidential notification in exercise of the powers conferred under Paragraph 12A (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India that “relevant sections and sub-sections of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 shall not apply or shall apply with modifications to the Autonomous Region (Scheduled areas) in the State of Meghalaya and the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act, 1973 and Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 shall not apply to the Autonomous Region (Scheduled areas) in the State of Meghalaya”.
