By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 27: Opposition MLAs in the Assembly on Friday raised serious concerns over illegal stone quarrying, lack of transparency in consent procedures, and inadequate monitoring across the state.
The legislators pointed to unauthorised extraction in multiple districts, warning that incomplete data on “consent-to-establish” (CTE) and “consent-to-operate” (CTO) applications could lead to irregularities and environmental degradation.
Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma emphasised the need for strict adherence to the Meghalaya Minerals Concession Rules, 2016. He specifically flagged the rising cost of stone aggregates in Garo Hills, suggesting that large-scale exports might be affecting the availability of materials for local infrastructure and government projects.
TMC MLA Miani D Shira sought district-wise figures on operators transitioning from CTE to CTO status. She also highlighted potential staff shortages at the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), stating that inadequate manpower hinders timely inspections and monitoring.
VPP MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit focused on quarrying in sensitive areas of West Garo Hills, linking unregulated activities to recent law-and-order incidents. Other members reported illegal extraction in Ri Bhoi, Resubelpara, Chokpot, and Phulbari, demanding stronger enforcement and penalties.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma maintained that permissions are processed strictly according to environmental and mining regulations. He informed the House that 12 new CTO permissions were issued in 2025-26, with West Garo Hills recording the highest number of renewals.
The chief minister confirmed that enforcement actions are ongoing, noting that eight illegal stone quarries were recently detected and shut down in Ri-Bhoi district.
Acknowledging logistical challenges, the Chief Minister announced that the government is establishing regional MSPCB offices in Tura and other locations. He said this move would improve accessibility for applicants, speed up the clearance process, and strengthen ground-level monitoring. He assured the House that verified data regarding pending applications would be tabled soon.
