Central ministries, Assam govt to meet on resuming coal mining: CM
First Published: 19th June, 2021 22:25 IST
A tripartite meeting among the Union ministries of coal and environment and the Assam government will be held next month to discuss resumption of coal mining in the state, chief
A tripartite meeting among the Union ministries of coal and environment and the Assam government will be held next month to discuss resumption of coal mining in the state, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.
After a meeting with officials of PSU major Coal India Limited (CIL) at Margherita in Tinsukia district, Sarma said that issues like pollution, and forest and environmental clearances are involved in resuming mining activities.
He discussed various issues pertaining to restarting mining activities by the North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), an official release said.
The NEC, a unit of the CIL, had announced suspension of all its mining operations in the state in June last year following protests against the company’s activities inside the Dehing Patkai forest.
According to a senior official of the Geology and Mining Department, work in all coal mines, including opencast ones, have stopped since mid-2020.
The tripartite meeting would be held next month in New Delhi to make a final decision on resuming coal mining in Assam, Sarma said after the meeting.
He said that all stakeholders must come together to find a solution to restart mining safely, according to the release.
Sarma said that the CIL should come forward by taking steps such as contributing to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which promotes afforestation and regeneration activities.
Pitching for a concentrated and scientific approach towards coal mining, the chief minister said that steps would have to be taken in a phased manner to achieve a balance between mining and forest protection.
Sarma and said that a way would be found to resume economic activities in and around Margherita without harming the environment.
“Steps have to be taken for sustaining economy, livelihood and environment,” he said.
The chief minister also received memorandums from various organisations and stakeholders on this matter.
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Arunachal: BJP leaders who were denied tickets urged not to fight elections against party’s official candidates
18th March 2024Live Party hopping in Arunachal: 6 BJP ticket aspirants denied tickets, join NPP
18th March 2024Live Nagaland Cong candidate SS Jamir urges voters to choose secularism, justice, peace and equality
18th March 2024Live Nagaland: ENPO calls for total shutdown of Tuensang headquarters tomorrow
18th March 2024WE RECOMMEND
LS Polls: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma chairs Election Management Committee meeting
In the meeting CM Sarma briefed the party leaders on how to reach out to the voters and gain their confidence.
17th March 2024Assam: BPF does not consider NDA as a factor in Kokrajhar LS seat, sees victory in Darrang-Udalguri too
The BPF today announced its candidates for the Kokrajhar and the Darrang-Udalguri seats.The Bodoland Peoples' Front today announced its candidates for 2 Lok Sabha seats.
16th March 2024Assam: AAP, VP Jitul Deka, spokesperson Susanta Kumar Nath resigns from party
This move comes within a day of Assam AAP withdrawing its candidate from the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat in Assam.
16th March 2024Assam: Centre approves Rs 645 cr for 10 new waterways projects on Brahmaputra
These ten projects under the flagship Sagarmala programme will enhance transportation efficiency, stimulate industrial development and trade in the region.
15th March 2024Cong trying to poach Dibrugarh, Sonitpur candidates, helping BJP win in Assam: AAP’s big accusation
AAP in Guwahati said that the Assam Congress President has been calling its Dibrugarh and Sonitpur candidates asking them to join Congress and contest polls under its symbol
15th March 2024