Miners appeal to Govt to permit limestone export

SHILLONG: The Joint Action Committee of Khasi-Jaintia Land Owners and Quarry Association (JAC-KJLOQA) has asked the State Government to give its nod to the export of already extracted limestone.
JAC-KJLOQA president Ribanroy Lyngdoh told reporters on Friday that the District Forest Officer had conducted an assessment of the stocks on May 18 this year.
He added that the limestone available in the stocks were extracted much before the order passed by the High Court of Meghalaya on June 30, 2015, which directed the State Government to regulate mining of minor minerals in the State.
According to him, the government since November last year has stopped issuing transit challan for transportation of limestone and this in turn has affected the livelihood of thousands of people.
Following the court’s direction, the State Government has come up with the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016.
He, however, admitted that they were unable to complete all the requirements as laid down in the Rules.