Shillong, Feb 3: The National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) has assured to take on board small time miners following the Centre’s approval for scientific coal mining to start in the state.
On January 29, three Escrow agreements were signed between the Controller of Coal, Government of India and the project proponents for mining sites at Pyndengshalang, West Khasi Hills, Saryngkham, East Jaintia Hills, and Lumiakhi Wahsarang, East Jaintia Hills.
These agreements are a crucial step toward initiating mining operations.
“Now, the next step for me is to get the smaller miners also on board,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had said during a press interaction last week while announcing the start of scientific coal mining in Meghalaya.
He was responding to a question on the demand of coal miners to amend the SOP that an application for prospecting license for coal shall be for an area not less than 100 hectares.
“We are also concerns about the smaller miners but as I said we were at a crossroad where we had to move forward in discussion with Government of India and we were not in a position to bargain too much,” Sangma had said while further explaining “We were already bargaining that look the land holding system is different in Meghalaya and hence the private mines have to be given this, Government of India says not possible because it can’t be done why would we go into private mines but then we have to explain that, that is how land holding systems work in Meghalaya, and we have to move forward in that. My point being that there were too many conditions and two many areas which were of great importance in way to move forward and hence I did not have the luxury to bargain with Government of India on too many fronts.”
“So when this issue came up of 100 hectare, when I open the subject, this 100 hectare is again a norm throughout the country and the government of India’s policy. Now coming up with the provision and reducing it to 10 acres was a another bargaining point which I have to do with Government of India which I felt that if I push for that and I push too many things maybe nothing will go through. So let me first push this 100 hectare and then once this happens then place my case at the second level saying that 90% of our miners are small miners, we need to amend this 100 and remove one zeros maybe or remove two zeros, so we are doing it. So, it was a decision again I had to take where I have to decide at that point in time by putting too many conditions am I jeopardizing the process and making it more complicated for Government of India to reach to decision and shall I go for the 100 at least first and then work on something,” he said
“So we decided after talking to all the officials and Delhi of course and doing some back channel discussions, we took a decision that no, let’s not be too much aggressive here, let’s at least start the process of mining at least let few miners get the licence and then let’s continue our work process and try to get the smaller miners. So it was a very difficult decision but we did the right thing we are at least now at that point where mining is now open, scientific process has started and three miners now have got the permission to start their mines,” he further added.
