Meghalaya to come out with mining policy

Shillong, Sept 19 (UNI) Meghalaya Minister in-charge, Mining and Geology, Prestone Tynsong today said the government was still on the process of framing out a mining policy.

The state government had decided to formulate a comprehensive mining policy following the Supreme Court directive to produce a status report on the ecological imbalance due to limestone and coal mining.

'' I have asked the expert committee to submit the draft policy at the earliest, '' Mr Tynsong told UNI here and said the state would come out with the mining policy early next year.

Earlier, the Cabinet had constituted an expert committee, headed by Chief Secretary S K Tewari to draft mining policy for Meghalaya.

At present, Meghalaya does not have a mining policy of its own and follows Central Mining policy.

The policy, he said, will contain several clauses to ensure a fine balance between economic development and protection of the environment in the state.

He said the policy would also include the traditional laws on mining in the state.

It is a must to have the mining policy as this will serve as a permanent basis to address various issues concerning mining activities in the state, he asserted.

Earlier, the Meghalaya Adventurers Association had filed a PIL to the apex court against the rampant mining in the state, which was threatening the cave system in the state.

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