By Supratim Dey
Voicing concern at a stakeholders’ meet, convened by the state government to formulate a mining policy, the coal miners and owners cautioned the state government that "heavy foreign investment will not be in the interests of local populace".
The state government plans to come up with a mining policy by next month to "systemise" mining activities in the state and to address the health, environment and labour issues. The decision came in the wake of concerns expressed by environmentalists who apprehend land degrade and forest cover depletion owing to the unscientific and indiscriminate mining.
Mining and geology minister of Meghalaya Bindu Lanong said, "They (local miners) wanted the government to take care of small miners and their suggestions will be considered while preparing the mining policy."
"Amendments will be made in the draft to ensure that the interests of the locals are protected," Lanong said.
According to him, the proposed mining policy will "ensure that the mining mechanism is systematised and inclusive of advanced technology; that is environment and health friendly." The miners’ lobby also suggested the government not to "sidetrack" the land tenure system prevailing in the state where the coal mines are owned by private individuals.
Mining of mineral resources in Meghalaya, which is rich in coal, limestone and uranium, had always hit one or the other roadblock.
Meghalaya has over 600 million tonne of coal reserves, and around 5 million tonne are mined annually.
Meghalaya is the only state in the country where coal miners don’t need any mining lease from the government. Any individual owning coal-bearing land can extract coal and sell it in the market.
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