Scientific coal mining in Meghalaya soon, machines already installed in certain locations: CM Sangma

Let's hope that things will start very soon, but I don’t want to give any date for this because these are technical matters, CM Conrad Sangma said.

Meghalaya is fast bracing towards the scientific mining of coal by giving up the conventional method of rat hole mining which has claimed dozens of human lives so far prompting the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to impose a ban on the practice.

According to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma a lot of activities are expected to take place in January 2024, that will witness the scientific way of mining coal coming into practice. CM Sangma believes that a lot of advancements have been made so far pertaining to the scientific method of mining.

This he said while responding to a query on his response to the Meghalaya High Court constituted 1-member Committee in its report suggesting the need to frame guidelines for scientific mining of coal in the state.

Sharing details about the progress made so far for commencing scientific mining, Conrad Sangma said, “The process is already on. In fact, in certain locations even the machineries are already being installed for scientific mining to start. I don’t want to jump the gun right now, but machines have already been ordered, some are being installed, some are on the way and we do expect that there will be a lot of movement that will take place in the month of January. Let’s hope that things will start very soon, but I don’t want to give any date for this because these are technical matters but a lot of advancement has been made, and as I said a lot of equipment are being ordered and some of them already installed.”

Asked as to what would be his government’s stand to the report of the one-member Committee, that seeks for framing of guidelines for scientific mining, Conrad Sangma in his response said, “We have already come out with different guidelines and based on those guidelines the GoI in fact has given us the approval. Four mining plans have already cleared. So hence we are on track. I am not very clear as to what specific requirement of that 1-member Committee is but as far as my information and knowledge goes, the mining plans whatever have been required in the past has been done. And that is the reason why we have been able to clear 4-5 mining plans. Hence we will definitely examine the points mentioned by the 1-member committee and wherever steps need to be taken, we will take steps.”

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned rat hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014 on the grounds that unscientific mining can cause human fatalities.

Read also: People will indulge in illegal coal mining till alternate livelihood options are available: Meghalaya CM

Watch also: Scientific coal mining in Meghalaya: CM says govt will examine HC constituted committee’s report

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