Shillong, Feb 12: The Single-Member Committee constituted by the Meghalaya High Court has asked the state government to take up the matter relating to closure of existing coal mine openings and implementation of the project of restoration of mining affected areas in the state on war footing.
“(This will) ensure stoppage of illegal mining activities and ensure stoppage of acid mined drainage (AMD) from the mine openings which continue to pollute the environment and the nearby rivers and streams,” Chairman of the committee Justice (retired) BP Katakey said in his 27th interim report submitted before the Court.
The Mining and Geology department has informed that the State Government had collaborated with the Central Mine Planning Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited to extend technical guidance on the matter of reclamation of mining areas.
Several steps had also been taken for closure of mine pits, for which, the Mining and Geology Department had earlier identified an area in Sutnga, East Jaintia Hills District and in Agremgittim, South Garo Hills District as pilot project.
The CMPDIL, who has been appointed as the Project Management Consultant (PMC) had submitted their detail proposal with consultancy fees, etc., including conceptual report on 7th and 18th January, 2024.
After several round of negotiation, the State Government in Mining and Geology Department finally accepted the consultancy fees offered by CMPDIL on 22.05.2024 in the meeting held between officials from the State Government and Central Mine Planning Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL).
Phase 1 of the project which includes Survey including Soil Analysis, etc., has already commenced to complete Geo-spatial, Geo-physical, seismic and other surveys including soil and Geo-logical structural study over all identified sites of pilot projects.
Once the survey and analysis work are completed within December end, based on data computed from the surveys, the Central Mine Planning Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), shall formulate the Detail Project Report (DPR) recommending specific technical measures required for mine closure and allied activities.
The Mining and Geology Department has also instructed the Deputy Commissioners concerned to identify villages where illegal mining is more likely to take place and also to obtained the consent from the landowners for restoration of their coal mining affected areas including coal mine closure operation, etc. The process is ongoing.
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