SHILLONG, June 18: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday said the concerns raised by coal miners over the delay in the resumption of mining activities cannot be resolved immediately, as the issue involves central laws over which the state has no power and is compelled to adhere to established legal procedures.
Earlier, coal miners expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s suggestion that stakeholders wait for three months while efforts are made to examine possible solutions to issues affecting the sector.
Tynsong said there was a need for citizens and stakeholders to understand the legal framework governing mining activities in Meghalaya.
He observed that misconceptions were being spread regarding the applicability of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, particularly arguments that the law should not apply because Meghalaya falls under the Sixth Schedule.
He said such interpretations were legally incorrect and stressed that any attempt to modify provisions of a central law would require engagement with the Government of India and adherence to due legislative process. While state laws can be revisited and amended by the state government, changes involving central legislation cannot be undertaken unilaterally by the state, he explained.
He rejected suggestions that the government was not responsive to the concerns of miners and said the administration remained committed to finding legally sustainable solutions.
Addressing allegations that the government misled the public by claiming to have introduced scientific mining, Tynsong clarified that licences for scientific mining had already been granted. However, he pointed out that the actual commencement of mining operations would depend on private licence holders and mining operators, not the government.
He said the government’s role was to facilitate and regulate the process, while implementation lay with the private sector.
Tynsong disclosed that a technical team was examining the issues raised by stakeholders and preparing a detailed assessment. A presentation by experts is scheduled for June 22. Stakeholders have been invited to participate and understand the legal and technical realities surrounding the mining sector.
According to Tynsong, the presentation is expected to provide clarity on whether any modifications or exemptions relating to the MMDR Act are legally feasible and what options are available for addressing the concerns of coal miners in the state.
Coal miners from Jaintia Hills had on Wednesday rejected the state government’s offer of a “Small Scale Mining Policy,” and demanded that the unworkable 100-hectare land requirement be slashed to allow local landowners to resume extraction.
The stalemate followed a meeting between the state government and the Jaintia Coal Owners, Miners, Suppliers and Workers Association (JCOMSWA). The government proposed a new committee headed by the Chief Secretary to draft a policy and examine land requirements but the miners dismissed the proposal, viewing it as a stalling tactic lacking concrete assurances.
At the heart of the contention is the “Scientific Mining” framework, which mandates a minimum of 100 hectares for a mining lease.
JCOMSWA leaders argued that this threshold is impossible for most local landowners in Jaintia Hills. They are demanding a model similar to limestone mining, where plots below five hectares are classified as minor mineral leases, allowing smaller operators to bypass the rigid regulations governing major minerals.
