After a decade of NGT ban, Meghalaya approves permission for scientific coal mining

Guwahati: Meghalaya government has approved permission to carry out scientific coal mining in three sites, more than 10 years after coal mining was completely banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Announcing the decision for resumption of coal mining, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma told reporters in Shillong on Thursday that the approval was given on Wednesday after the scientific mining plans submitted by the firms were approved by the union coal ministry and other regulatory agencies.

"The mining now will be scientific and will be done by those approved by the government. NGT's ban in 2014 had abruptly stopped the livelihood options of lakhs of people and we had promised to resume scientific mining. Today, I am happy to announce that we have fulfilled the promise we made to the people," Sangma said.

Impact on ecology

The coal mining was banned by the NGT in 2014 due to adverse impact on the ecology, human health and rivers in the hilly and tribal dominated state.

The state government had drawn much flak in 2018 when at least 13 workers died inside an illegal "rat hole" coal mine at Ksan village in East Jaintia Hills district. The mishap exposed how illegal coal mining was going on despite a ban by the NGT. At the same, the government was under pressure from the local communities, who depended on coal mining for livelihood.

As the state is protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, communities enjoys the rights over their land and the minerals beneath. The little control of the governemnt over the land kept the illegal coal mining going.

Amid pressure for resumption of coal mining, Meghalaya government moved the Supreme Court and got the NGT ban vacated in 2019. "After the NGT ban was vacated, we had to struggle a lot to work out the mining plans, which is scientific," Sangma said. The ruling National People's Party (NPP) led by Sangam also promised in its 2023 Assembly poll manifesto to resume scientific coal mining.

The CM said the agreements for scientific mining were signed between the Controller of Coal and the firms for mining sites at Pyndengshalang in West Khasi Hills, Saryngkham in East Jaintia Hills and Lumiakhi Wahsarang in East Jaintia Hills. "These firms can resume mining as and when they want," the CM said. "Another 12 more applications are in the advanced stages of approval, and we continue to actively pursue them with the support of the project proponents and the dedicated efforts of the department of mining and geology."

The minining sites are spread in more than 100 acres. "Such a large minining areas will allow the governent agencies to continuosuly monitor and prevent violationg of the norms approved by the government regulatory agencies," Sangam said. The CM said the mining is likely to contribute non-tax revenue of Rs. 500 to 800 crore annually to the state excequer.

The approval was given days after at least nine workers got trapped in an illegal coal mine at Umrangso in Dima Hasao, a hilly district in Assam that shares the boundary with Meghalaya. The mishap on January 6 exposed illegal coal mining in Assam too. Bodies of five workers has still remained traceless in the flooded mine.