SHILLONG | Jun 23, 2015: The officials of Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, Coal India Limited and Director General of Mine Safety based in Guwahati held a meeting with the Meghalaya Chief Secretary, officials of mining and geology department and directorate of mineral resources to work out a guideline for coal mining in the State.
During its two-day visit to the State on June 17 and 18, the team also visited several coal mines in Jaintia Hills.
An official said on Monday that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the need to set out a guideline for coal mining following the interim ban by NGT on rat hole mining in the State.
After the NGT ordered ban of rat hole mining, the State Government had sought the intervention of the Centre to help the state to adopt effective measures before resuming coal trade.
Following the request from the State Government, the Centre had deputed the team of officials from Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, Coal India Limited and Director General of Mine Safety to visit the state aimed at preparing guidelines to enable the State Government to carry out mining after undertaking various safety measures.
“These officials are also part of the group of experts who had met in Delhi twice in the past to discuss the ways and means to adopt a viable guideline for mining of coal in the State”, the official said.
The assistance of the Central establishment was sought since the State Government does not have expertise for carrying out coal mining with safeguards. Moreover, mining of coal is a central subject, the official added.
NGT wanted proper mining plan put in place before it reviews the decision on the ban on coal mining during the next hearing scheduled for next month in Delhi.
The NGT had already given time till June 30 for the transportation of already extracted coal in the state. Despite the ban, there are reports of illegal transportation and extraction of coal from parts of the state.
(Source: http://www.theshillongtimes.com/)