SHILLONG, Sept 28: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday admitted that revenue generation of the state has come down.

“The generation of revenue has come down because we have to do transportation of coal which has been declared and confirmed by the deputy commissioner. Again, even the auction process is not being done by the state government but by the Coal India Limited. Therefore, naturally the revenue generation has gone down in view of all these factors,” Tynsong told reporters.

He said the government has to strictly follow as per the MMDR Act for starting legal mining in the state.

“Quite a number of them have already applied for mining leases and the process is on. I am sure very soon we will be able to issue the final mining lease to those lessees, but it should be according to the law,” Tynsong said.

When asked, the deputy chief minister said, “See I cannot say because now the applications are flowing in. Anybody can apply but you need to also meet the criteria, you need to also do your document work as per the prescribed norms of the MMDR Act.”

Regarding the incomplete projects, Tynsong said in fact there are so many challenges which include two years of Covid pandemic.

“We have just started working this year only after February and March but I am telling you we wanted to complete those incomplete projects and we are committed to complete them at the earliest possible,” he said.

He however added, “If we are able to complete the crowborough hotel, which is not less than 37 years, so why not other projects. I am sure we will be able to complete them as well.”