JOWAI/SHILLONG: The submission of the state government before the National Green Tribunal on August 10 that the Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation (MMDC) can be engaged for fresh coal mining has irked stakeholders.
The State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners and Dealers Forum (SCCCOMDF), which represents coal miners in Meghalaya, said it took strong exception to the government’s affidavit filed in the NGT court with a proposal to allow fresh coal mining with MMDC as the nodal agency without taking the stakeholders into confidence.
The state government also made a plea to give more time to address other mining related issues.
B. Swer, the media in charge of the Forum, said NGT fixed the matter for hearing on August 24 and the Forum will apprise the Tribunal of the non-viability of the solution proposed by the state government.
In May this year, the state government had decided to entrust MMDC to carry out mining under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
According to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, MMDC is eligible to apply for mining lease under existing laws and with the consent of the people. However, MMDC should be given the rights of mines.
Various mining bodies had protested against the government for engaging MMDC in carrying out mining since they will lose the mining rights.
Earlier, the government had petitioned the Centre to invoke Para 12A (b) of the Sixth Schedule through a presidential notification to exempt Meghalaya from the provisions of the MMDR Act and the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act.
It was in April 2014 that NGT had banned rat-hole coal mining in the State.
