SHILLONG, SEPT 16: The union government has asked Meghalaya government to take up pilot project for preparing comprehensive ecological restoration plan for coal mine areas in the state. This recommendation was made by the committee headed by the Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC). The committee was constituted by the NGT on March 31 this year.
Replying in the assembly on Friday, chief minister Mukul Sangma said that the committee was constituted after the state government had submitted the Mining Plan/Guidelines to the NGT on January 1.
He informed that the state government has also submitted its comments and status on the matter before the committee headed by MOEFCC Secretary in its first meeting held on May 4.
The meeting decided that National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) will be conducting site visit during May 30 to June 31 and submit the report to the committee.
In its order issued on July 21, the NGT directed the MOEFCC, Ministry of Coal and state government to hold a meeting presided over by the Secretary of MoEF&CC to finalise the mining plan and mining policy including the scheme for the restoration of the environment and ecology.
Informing that the second meeting of the committee was held on August 30, Sangma said, “It has recommended the state government carry out a pilot study of a cluster of rat-hole mines in Jaintia hills taking them on watershed basis for treatment and ecological restoration in the background of their findings and to use the learning’s from pilot for preparing comprehensive ecological restoration plan for the entire mine area.”
The state government was also asked to fund the pilot restoration project by engaging the services of the NEERI besides MOEFCC will also make available the expertise available with BSI, ZSI, Regional Office and CPCB to the state government in carrying out the project.
Apart from this, a Co-ordination Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Forests & Environment) with members drawn from all concerned agencies will be constituted by the state to carry out a monthly review of implementation of the action plan.
NGT committee also recommended the state to ensure no mining should be allowed without obtaining prior environmental clearance under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006.
Further as a follow up action of the NGT direction, Sangma said that the suggestions of NEERI regarding ‘sealing of abandoned’ rat-hole mines by engineering interventions was asked to be examined by the state in consultation with reputed mining/geotechnical institute for an appropriate decision considering the magnitude and extent of the problem as well as feasibility.
On the other hand, the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board will also carry out regular monitoring of surface and ground water pollution.
“A detailed note in this regard along with the long term data shall be submitted to the NEERI to arrive at the trend analysis and suggest adequate mitigation measures,” he said while quoting the tribunal committee’s recommendation.-By Our Reporter
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