By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Highlighting the sensitivity of the issue of mining in the State, Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong on Wednesday assured of bringing out the State Mining Policy at the earliest.
“We would like to put in place the Mining Policy at the earliest to regulate mining activities in the State,” Lanong who is in charge of Mining and Geology said.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister the final draft of the Policy is currently being examined by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Replying to a query, he said that the Government is likely to table the State Mining Policy within the Budget Session in March.
Lanong further informed that the Government has already incorporated the views and suggestions of the concerned stakeholders in the final draft of the Mining Policy.
The drafting of the Mining Policy involved a thorough study and consultation with all the relevant departments like the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Pollution Control Board and also incorporated views of the stakeholders including various NGOs.
It may be reminded that the final draft of the policy was proposed to be submitted to the State Government in July last year but due to opposition from coal miners and limestone miners of the State under the umbrella of the Joint Forum on Mining Policy (Coal and Limestone), the submission had been delayed.