SHILLONG: The State Government is looking at a legal framework to regulate coal mining in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh told reporters on Monday that the committee headed by principal secretary in charge mining KS Kropha has been entrusted with the task of suggesting regulation to ensure coal mining without affecting the environment.
Lyngdoh said that National Green Tribunal banned the mining of coal as current practice of extracting coal went against the Central Act which wants to ensure mining with safeguards.
According to Lyngdoh, one of the tasks of the committee headed by Kropha will be to draft a regulation.
“We also asked the committee to engage a Supreme Court lawyer who is expert in matters related to coal mining”, Lyngdoh said.
He also stressed the need for a discussion between coal miners, land owners and the Government to ensure that mining is carried out as per the Central Act.