SHILLONG: Observing that coal is a national resource, Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday termed the rat hole mining system in the State as illegal and hailed the National Green Tribunal order banning such mining in Meghalaya.
“As per the provisions laid down in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957, the rat whole mining in the State is definitely illegal,” Tynsong told reporters here, while adding, “We are all aware that neither the State Government nor any individual has any stake on coal. It is in this context that the rat hole mining is illegal.”
Tynsong also hailed the timing of the ban, saying that the NGT order has come at an appropriate time since it gives an opportunity to the Government to regulate mining activities in the State to a certain extent.
“The NGT in its order has given the liberty to the State Government to come up with some schemes in regulating the mining activities. We have also been directed to formulate some statutory rules to ensure that the mining activities do not have any negative impact on the environment and the surroundings,” he said.
According to Tynsong, the State Government is currently on the job to comply with the NGT order.
“We are preparing a comprehensive report on the measures initiated by the government for scientific mining to be placed before the NGT,” he said.
The State Government has constituted a committee under Additional Chief Secretary KS Kropha to guide all the line departments to come up with comprehensive rules so that the same could be placed before the NGT.
Tynsong also informed that the State Government is working on formulation of rules to implement the State Mining Policy which was notified in 2012.
“We would be immediately implementing the mining policy once we have finalized the rules,” he said.
The Minister, however, admitted that there was an overwhelming support for the rate hole mining system due to peculiar situation prevailing in Meghalaya.
“We are all aware that the mining areas in the State fall under the Sixth Schedule and the land owners are the supreme authority on their land. This is the main reason that the State Government has not been able to put its foot down as far as rat hole mining is concerned,” he said.