Cabinet approves Minor Minerals Rules

SHILLONG: The State Cabinet has approved the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules 2016 to ensure protection to people engaged in mining of minor minerals while also keeping in mind the aspect of environment protection.
Following a Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters that the Cabinet approved the rules after a certain amount of fine tuning.
According to the chief minister, while there is scope for the authorities to roll out guidelines when quarry permits are given, the rules will also make sure that the interests of the indigenous people are protected.
The chief minister said that there will not be any scope for misuse of the provisions of the rules as in the past the State Government was adversely affected due to the benami transactions.
“By the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules 2016, we have indirectly ensured that the provisions of the rules protect the interest of the people,” Sangma said.