SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said the government has engaged Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), to prepare a detailed mining plan.
Speaking to reporters after the Supreme Court verdict on coal mining, he said that mining will be allowed provided a plan is prepared which will be put up to the state government following which the state government will send it to the union government for consideration.
“Coal mining will be allowed provided a mining plan is prepared which will be put up to the state government and then the state government will send it to the union government which will vet it and after that people can start mining coal,” he said.
He informed that as far as coal mining is concerned, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act is still applicable and the people have to comply with it without fail. However, he said that the issue of ownership remains with the stakeholders — the tribals — which is historic for the state government and the people of Meghalaya.
Commenting on concerns over damage to environment arising out of coal mining, he said matters relating to protection of the environment will be addressed.
Tynsong criticised the previous government and said, “MUA did nothing and were just sitting idle… they talk big without doing anything, so ultimately the MDA government took up the issue very seriously and took it to the Supreme Court.”
He added that under former chief minister Mukul Sangma, papers were submitted to the ministry of coal and connected ministries proposing that the mining of coal should be handed over to MMDC.
“Though MMDC is a state government public undertaking, there was talk about transferring the whole activities of mining, which may mean that we are transferring ownership to the MMDC,” Tynsong said.
As for the Rs 100-crore penalty imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the state government, Tynsong informed that the amount can be paid from the reclamation fund and it will be sent to the Central Pollution Control Board.