Dimapur | Nov 20, 2017: The department of Geology & Mining and Environment, Forest and Climate Change has once again asserted its right to ‘regulate, control and monitor all minerals including coal, petroleum and natural gas in the state’.

A press release from the department on Monday cited a ‘joint meeting of the departments of Geology & Mining and Environment, Forest & Climate Change on the matters relating to the implementation of the Nagaland Minor Mineral Concession Rules 2004 (NMMCR) held on October 28, scheduled vide Circular No. GM-5/EXPL-15/2001(Pt.) Kohima, dated the 27th October 2017, under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister TR Zeliang’.

According to the statement, the chief minister has made ‘a clear cut decision in line with Article 371A of the Indian Constitution and the NOTLAR Act 1990 and the NMMCR 2004 and Rules of Executive Business, wherein, all minerals, coal, petroleum and natural gas are listed as minerals, which falls within the prerogative of the department of Geology and Mining’ during that meeting. “Henceforth, the department of Geology and Mining will regulate, control and monitor all minerals including coal, petroleum and natural gas in the State and will continue granting mining permit, levy tax/royalty on all minerals within the State. Any other agency collecting royalty on minerals will be treated illegal and it will attract legal action as per the provisions of law”.

(Source: http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/)