Dimapur, July 5 (EMN): Meghalaya chief minister, Conrad K Sangma, today informed that deliberation with the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, in resolving the grievances and hardship of the coal miners is in advanced stage and added that the union coal minister has been very positive with the representations and memorandums submitted by the state government.
Sangma informed this to the delegation of the state co-ordination committee of coal owners, miners and dealers forum, who called on him at his office and sought his intervention to resolve the grievance and hardship of the coal miners.
A press release from the chief minister’s office stated that Sangma had told the delegation that mining of coal has been the priority of the government and all modalities with respect to environment, safety of miners, etc are being thoroughly worked out.
The delegation had submitted a memorandum to chief minister reiterating the exemption of central mining laws from autonomous region of the state under Para 12 (A), (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India and sought his intervention on finalisation of mining map, policy and guidelines.
He told the forum that in the past three months, the government has engaged with the ministry of coal on several occasions and the discussion are moving forward. He told the forum that government is concern for the environment and economic activities, which revolves around coal mining in Meghalaya.
He assured the delegation that the state government is finding out way forward to ensure that mining could be started taking utmost care of the environment.
