SHILLONG, JULY 14: Cabinet Minister and MDA government spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla on Tuesday said the state is hopeful of a solution for small-scale mining, adding that discussions with the Centre have been “quite positive”.
Speaking on scientific mining, Shylla said technology and changing times have made it a viable option.
“If you ask me 10-15 years back, I might have said no. But I think, as we know and as time goes with present technology, if we explore, there will definitely be a possibility,” Shylla said.
He thanked Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for taking up the concerns of miners in Jaintia Hills.
“I am very thankful to the Chief Minister who really heard the cry of the people of Jaintia Hills, because no doubt they have been patient and they are with the government,” he said.
Referring to the National Green Tribunal ban, the minister said the NPP had pursued the matter and got the ban lifted. However, rat-hole mining remains prohibited.
“Last time when there was the NGT ban, the NPP fought for it and we got the ban lifted. But there was a stop on rat-hole mining. So we have to go for scientific mining. The government has really helped those miners, and now they have got the mining plan and have started mining as well,” Shylla stated.
He noted that most mining areas in the region are small-scale, which makes it difficult to meet existing requirements. This, he said, led to large protests last month demanding permission for small-scale mining.
“But at the same time, we realised that in our region, the areas have small-scale mines. So it is very difficult to have that area which they are asking for. That is why last month there was a huge protest asking the government to go for small-scale mining,” he said.
Shylla added that a study and presentation was done before the Chief Minister’s recent visit to Delhi.
“I was very happy to hear from the Chief Minister that the meeting was quite positive, and the Union Minister really liked the idea and they will explore it,” he said.
“So I think, as of now, more or less the process has gone smoothly. So hopefully, we will come up with a solution for small-scale mining,” the minister added.
By Our Reporter
