SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has urged the Centre to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) to pave the way for the resumption of coal mining in Meghalaya.
A UDP delegation led by Cabinet Minister Lahkmen Rymbui raised the demand during a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Rymbui said the ban on coal mining following the 2014 court order had severely affected the livelihoods of thousands of people in the state.
According to the UDP leader, coal mining had been carried out in Meghalaya since the 1970s and continued until 2014, when it came to a halt following the court ruling.
He said the Meghalaya Government, led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, has been pursuing amendments to the MMDR Act since 2018 to accommodate the state’s distinctive land ownership system, where much of the land is privately owned.
UDP highlights Meghalaya’s unique mining conditions
Rymbui also pointed out that open-cast mining may not be economically viable in Meghalaya because coal seams in the state are generally only around 1–2 feet thick, compared to much thicker seams of around 7–8 feet in some other states.
He referred to former MP Prof. G.G. Swell’s description of coal mining as a form of cottage industry in Meghalaya.
Rymbui said the proposed amendment could allow landowners to undertake mining activities under a framework suited to the state’s land ownership pattern.
The UDP delegation also highlighted the importance of considering local sentiments while addressing the issue of uranium mining in Meghalaya.
Centre to form committee
According to Rymbui, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the delegation that a committee would be formed to study the issue and examine the concerns raised by Meghalaya.
The proposed move could pave the way for further discussions between the Centre and the state over a legal framework for coal mining in Meghalaya, while taking into account land ownership, mining conditions and environmental concerns.
The demand comes amid renewed political discussions in Meghalaya over the future of coal mining and the need to balance livelihood concerns with legal and environmental safeguards.