Shillong: The four coal miners-project proponents who recently obtained their mining lease from the Government of India has felicitated Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday at Nongstoin.
Speaking to reporters after the program, Chief Minister said that the start of coal mining is a historic moment for the state and the people dependent on the coal sector for their livelihoods after the coal ban was in place for almost a decade.
“It is indeed a very historic moment because for almost a decade the people of the State especially the miners and people who are dependent on the mining sectors especially coal have really suffered in the past many years. Not only the people, but the government have lost alot in terms of revenue and royalty”, said CM Conrad.
The Chief Minister added that with the granting of mining lease from the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, all these are about to change.
The 4 miners have received the mining lease following which they will apply for state clearances along with public consultation after which the process of scientific mining can be initiated, said CM. He added that in the future if other miners will have to follow the same procedures so as to obtain their ‘legal’ or ‘scientific’ mining.
Lauding the government of India, CM thank the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for the Ministry of Coal, Pralhad Joshi for being an instrumental support in ensuring coal mining starts in Meghalaya in a scientific and safe manner.
