SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government has asked coal mining stakeholders in Jaintia Hills to submit proposals on how mining activities can be legally resumed, as efforts to revive the sector continue to face regulatory hurdles.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said the government is awaiting suggestions from miners and stakeholders before Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma takes up the matter with the Union government. The move comes amid growing demands from coal miners and traders for the revival of mining activities, which have remained largely stalled since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in 2014. According to mining associations, the prolonged restrictions have severely affected livelihoods and the economy in coal-dependent areas of Jaintia Hills. They argue that the current scientific mining framework is difficult for small and medium operators to implement due to high costs and stringent requirements.
One of the major concerns raised by stakeholders is the minimum land requirement for obtaining mining approval. Under the existing system, mining projects generally require a minimum area of 100 hectares, a condition that many local operators say is beyond their reach.Dhar acknowledged that the 100-hectare requirement remains a significant obstacle to restarting mining activities. He said the state government intends to pursue discussions with the Centre on the possibility of reducing the minimum land requirement to make legal mining accessible to smaller operators.
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers Association (JCMDA) has given the government a three-month ultimatum to address the issue. The association is also preparing its own proposal in consultation with stakeholders from Khasi Hills and Garo Hills.
The miners’ body has maintained that any future policy should accommodate smaller mining operations and provide a practical framework for legal coal extraction in Meghalaya.The government is expected to examine the proposals before initiating further discussions with the Centre on the future of coal mining in the state.