Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 11
Y. Patton, parliamentary secretary geology and mining said that unscientific rat hole mining activities were going on especially in parts of Mon, Mokokchung, Longleng and Wokha district. He was replying to Congress MLA C Apok Jamir in the floor of the House today on being asked whether government was aware of the large-scale unregulated coal mining that is going on in various pockets of the state.
He said that the department of geology and mining has taken over the coal chapter from the department of forest during the last part of 2006. Since them, the department has brought many of such activities under its control and regulating the same under the Nagaland Coal Mining Rules, 2006, which is framed under the (Nagaland Ownership and Transfer of Land and its Resources) Act, 1990.
So far, the department has issued 24 Coal Prospecting Licence for carrying out prospecting works to private companies and some individuals and one Mining Lease has been issued, Patton said. He also stated that the government has given one Coal Mining License to Tiru Coal Project Ltd to operate one opencast mining in Upper Tiru village and the mine is under proper regulation and control of the department of Geology & Mining. The Department has, however, not issued any license to any individual or company in Konya area of Tuensang district.
As per the provisions of the rule, Patton said it is mandatory that the company or individual applying for grant of mining lease should first conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), adding that the Tiru Coal Project Ltd has accordingly carried out EIA and the same was consented by the competent authority, the Nagaland State Pollution Control Board (NSPCB) after which the Mining Lease was granted.
