Shillong: CM Conrad Sangma has emphasized on striking a balance between livelihoods, safety, and environment in relation to coal mining in the state.“I stress on the word balance because that is really what is important. While we have to look at livelihood, we have to ensure that we continue to take care of our people, we need to also take care of the lives and the safety of the miners,” he told the media on Wednesday.“While coal mining is a livelihood aspect which is very important… yet we have to at the same time balance the safety of the miners and the impact on the environment,” he said in reference to revival of operations in smaller coal mines in the state.“In the process, there will never be a kind of a perfect system… there will always be challenges ahead,” the CM said, adding that scientific mining has already begun in the state under central approvals.The CM said the state has received a “positive response” from the Centre on its request to allow smaller coal mines to operate, adding that details would be shared only after final clearance.“We are getting positive response but I would refrain from giving details right now until and unless we have the final clearance from the government,” he said, referring to ongoing talks with the Central Government to permit mines below the current 100-hectare threshold. “As of now, the larger mines, the 100 hectares mines are being permitted by government of India and four mines as I said permissions have been given out of which three mines are already active,” he said.“Large quantity of coal from this scientifically mined coal have already started being exported outside the state. So, the process has started but we have a long way to go,” he said.“Our concerns are actually the small miners, who are not having the kind of requisite areas that is required, so those challenges are in the process, we are trying to address them by seeking permission from government of India where smaller mines can be given permission,” he said.
