Assembly passes Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules

A CORRESPONDENT   

SHILLONG, Sept 16: The Meghalaya Assembly on the fil day of the autumn session passed the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016.

The Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 for regulating the grant of mining leases and quarry permits in respect of minor minerals.

The Rules puts restrictions on the grant of mining lease and quarry permit. As per the Rules, no mining lease and quarry permit shall be granted in respect of any land within a distance of 50 meters from any village, bridge, tiol highway or water resource except with the prior approval of the state government.

No mining lease and quarry permit shall be granted in respect of any land which is notified by the state government as reserved for use by the state government or for any public or special purposes or land falling within forest as identified by Forest and Environment department according to its dictiory meaning except after obtaining clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The Rules also restricts land falling within catchment area as defined under the provisions of the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Areas Act, 1990, lands falling in protected areas such as tiol parks, sanctuaries, community reserves and wildlife corridors, bio-diversity heritage sites and notified by the state government from time to time as no mining zone.

The Rules also states that no mining lease and quarry permit shall be granted without the prior environmental clearance and also which is in contravention of the provisions under the Meghalaya Land Transfer (Regulation) Act, 1972.

Moreover, the power to grant mining lease and quarry permits rests with the director or competent officer in respect of minor minerals for industrial and specific uses as specified in Schedule II or by the PCCF and HOFF or competent officer in respect of minor minerals for uses other than in industries as specified in Schedule III.