Shillong, Oct 14: Meghalaya is seeking to reduce the minimum area required for scientific coal mining from 100 hectares to 5-10 hectares to enable small miners to participate in the sector, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Wednesday, reiterating the state’s commitment to safer and environmentally responsible mining.
Addressing a programme marking the 10th anniversary of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), Sangma said mining remains a major source of employment in Meghalaya, supporting thousands of families.
The state government is in constant touch with the Centre, with discussions underway with the Union coal minister on reconsidering the minimum area requirement, he said.
He, however, stressed that any relaxation of mining norms must not compromise workers’ safety or environmental safeguards.
Rat-hole mining, which poses serious risks to miners and the environment, would not be permitted, he said, adding that regulations and technological solutions must be adapted to local conditions.
The government is also examining ways to address regulatory hurdles faced by small-scale miners extracting limestone, stone, boulders, sand and other minerals.
Sangma said Meghalaya was working towards a gradual transition from an extractive economy to a regenerative one, taking into account the state’s distinct geology and land tenure system.
Highlighting the DMF’s contribution over the past decade, he said it had mobilised Rs 181 crore, with 923 projects sanctioned across the state. Of these, 542 have been completed.
The projects include classrooms, improved healthcare facilities, drinking water supply and footbridges connecting remote villages.
However, Sangma called for DMF investments to move beyond conventional infrastructure development and create sustainable economic opportunities for communities dependent on mining.
He cited a value-added bee products unit at Nengmandalgre, silkworm rearing and a weaving centre in Ri Bhoi, and a district emporium promoting locally produced goods as examples of livelihood-oriented initiatives.
“Mining is a very important part of our economy. But it is important for the State to be able to reinvest the revenue in a way that regenerates the economy into a more sustainable form,” he said.
Sangma also identified food processing, tourism, entrepreneurship and value addition as sectors with the potential to support long-term livelihoods and diversify Meghalaya’s economy.