SHILLONG, DEC 13: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said the Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation Limited (MMDC) will act as an “instrument” to provide immediate relief to coal miners, who are affected due to NGT ban on coal mining in the state.
“This instrument (MMDC) will give immediate relief to our miners,” Sangma said while replying to the call attention moved by suspended Congress member Pynshngain N Syiem in the Assembly held here on Wednesday.
He said the MMDC has been offered pending the Government of India invoking Para 12 A (b) of Sixth Schedule to ensure provisions of the central laws related to coal mining is exempted in Meghalaya.
It may be mentioned here that coal miners have opposed the proposed move to engage the MMDC to take up mining activities on behalf of the coal miners.
Stating that MMDC will not be the owner of the mines, Sangma said that MMDC will take all the necessary measures to prepare mining plan and in getting various clearances after getting mining lease from the government of India.
“There is need to be understood with complete clarity that MMDC is empowered by the mandate of a law to be utilized by the government to help people mine their coal which is not available for private miners,” he said.
Dispelling the wrong perception, the chief minister informed that the MMDC will enter into an agreement with mine owners in respect of having rights over their land.
He said that after mining is completed mine closures has to be there as per provision of law and the same will be handed over to the people adding so where is the question of alienation of land and dilution of the rights of the people.
Mining activities can be done in a very transparent manner by appointing Mine Developer cum Operator (MDO) in a transparent bidding system where we can get the best of experts to have scientific mining, he said.
According to him, it will also be in a transparent manner because it will be done through national bidding and the mine owners will know the actual cost of coal from their respective mines.
He also said that after calculation which includes the cost of mining, marketing and transportation, what will be the share of profit between mine owners and MMDC will be known.
“We say when we get this mutually agreed, we have suggested that 20-25 per cent profit should be given to MMDC and the rest will go to the mine owners,” Sangma said.
“What is the problem in having MMDC as a partner rather than bringing some other businessmen or Marwaris and others from outside? MMDC is an agent of the government and government is people’s government,” he added.
Stating that majority of the profit is shared by the investors from outside the state, Sangma said but here it is going to be just the opposite as MMDC will invest and people will not have to run around scouting for financers.
Also pointing out that miners are becoming “victims of manipulation”, he said “That is the reason why people are not able to create wealth even after so many years of mining except very few.”
The chief minister further stated that besides insulating the people from the manipulation of middlemen, it (MMDC) will also insulate them from tendency of engaging in benami activities which is on the rampant in the coal mining areas.
“There is lot of benami going on in coal mining areas and how do we prevent it if people don’t have money,” he said adding “If we have also amended the Act (on benami), let us ensure that people withdraw themselves from benami activities. Let us practice what we preached.”
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a blanket ban on unscientific coal mining in the state for the past three years since April 17, 2014, which has affected the economy of the state and its people.
However, Sangma made it clear that the NGT has not ban coal mining but has ban only illegal coal mining.
“Illegal because the mining activities do not conform with the statutory laws pertaining to environment, safety and health aspects. Therefore, all these statutory requirements have to be reflected in the mining plan and place before the NGT,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chief minister while lamenting that there is a disconnect inspite of the best efforts of the government appealed to all members of the House to create awareness among the people on the provisions of the law.
“Let us tell them that this is a provision of law and MMDC will only be acting as a contractor and it will not be the owner of the mine, it will only get mining lease and ensure rights over land is with the people,” he added.
By Our Reporter
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