SHILLONG: The final draft of the much-awaited State Mining Policy that would regulate the mining activities in the State will be submitted to the Government by the end of this month.
Disclosing this to a group of journalists here on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister and Mining and Geology Minister Bindo M Lanong said the final draft of the policy is complete and it will be forwarded to the Cabinet by the end of this month.
He also said drafting of the policy involved a thorough study and consultation with all the relevant departments like the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Pollution Control Board and that views of the stakeholders including various NGOs have been taken into consideration while formulating the various laws on mining, environment, pollution etc.
Highlighting the basic aim of the policy, Lanong said it aims at systematising the way mining is carried out in the State while creating job opportunities wherein preference will be given to the local people in and around the mining areas.
There is an urgent need to see that the environment and water sources are protected while initiating various mining activities and to control pollution, said the minister while adding that mining near the river streams and water sources will not be allowed.
“No mining activity shall take place within one km of any water sources like streams, rivers etc.,” Lanong said.
He further stressed the enforcement of existing laws like employment of miners and at the same time denied the figure of child labourers working in the mines, 70000, as claimed by an NGO.
“The survey (by the NGO) was done in a hush-hush manner and the figures provided by them (NGOs) are not true at all,” said Lanong.
