onstituted committee will take some more time to prepare the comprehensive report on the measures to be initiated by the State Government for scientific mining.
Indicating this here on Friday, Additional Chief Secretary KS Kropha told The Shillong Times that once completed the report would be placed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
“The committee has so far had two sittings. We are already on the job compiling the suggestions and recommendations of the various line departments,” Kropha said.
Kropha said that the Mining and Geology Department at present was preparing the guidelines for implementation of the Meghalaya Mines and Mineral Policy, 2012.
“I would not be able to say when it would be ready with the report. It will take some more time since it is an exhaustive exercise,” the Additional Chief Secretary said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mukul Sngma had said that the committee would guide all the line departments to come up with a comprehensive report which is required to be completed as expeditiously as possible so that it could be placed before NGT at the earliest.
The NGT in its order passed on April 17 had also directed the state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to ensure that rat-hole mining and illegal transport of coal are stopped ‘forthwith’ throughout the state.
The order came after the All Dimasa Students’ Union and Dima Hasao District Committee moved the tribunal on April 2, stating that illegal rat-hole mining in Jaintia Hills was polluting the Kopili River in neighbouring Assam and turning its water acidic.
