Shillong : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday urged the Central Government to delegate powers to the State under Section 26 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, allowing Meghalaya to grant prior approval and approve coal mining plans within the State.
The Chief Minister raised the issue during a meeting with Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy in New Delhi. He was accompanied by Santa Mary Shylla, MLA of Sutnga-Saipung.
Conrad Sangma said the move would enable thousands of small tribal coal-owning families to obtain lawful mineral concessions and mining approvals without having to approach authorities outside the State.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s unique constitutional position as a Sixth Schedule State, the Chief Minister explained that land and mineral resources belong to individuals, clans and communities rather than the State Government. He noted that this position was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2019, while requiring compliance with the MMDR Act for mining operations.
He further pointed out that coal deposits in Meghalaya are thin and scattered across small family-owned plots, making the national mining model unsuitable for the State.
The Chief Minister also said that since the National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining in 2014, thousands of families dependent on small-scale coal mining have lost their livelihoods, while the State has suffered significant losses in royalty, cess and tax revenues.
He noted that the minimum concession area of 100 hectares, introduced under the 2021 Standard Operating Procedure, has made it difficult for genuine coal owners in Meghalaya to obtain mining leases because such large continuous land holdings rarely exist in the State.
Conrad Sangma requested the Centre to issue the necessary notifications under Section 26 of the MMDR Act and related mining rules to transfer these approval powers to the Meghalaya Government. A formal representation along with a detailed proposal was submitted to the Union Minister.
During the meeting, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy suggested constituting a committee to examine the matter. The Chief Minister welcomed the proposal, and the committee is expected to be formed shortly.
Expressing hope over the outcome of the meeting, Conrad Sangma said the proposed step would help thousands of tribal families earn a legal and dignified livelihood from their mineral resources under proper regulation and State supervision.