A comprehensive drone survey across all mining districts in Meghalaya is set to commence in January, following the latest approval from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) oversight committee. The survey, recommended by the Justice Kataki Committee and approved by the Meghalaya High Court, aims to assess the environmental and safety concerns surrounding mining activities in the state.
Naba Bhattacharjee, Chairman of the State Expert Appraisal Committee on Environment (SEAC) and representative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, confirmed the initiative. He stated that the survey would target a one-kilometer radius from areas where previous mining seizures had occurred, including districts like East Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills, and parts of West Jaintia Hills.
“This is going to start next week. Approval has come from the oversight committee of the NGT to undertake this drone survey, not only in South West Khasi Hills but in all mining districts. Let us wait for the report and see what it says,” Bhattacharjee said.
Referring to previous evaluations, Bhattacharjee highlighted the discrepancy between initial estimates and drone survey results. A 2019 affidavit filed in the Supreme Court had pegged coal reserves at 32 lakh metric tons, but the drone survey revealed an actual volume of 16-17 lakh metric tons, nearly half the original estimate. These materials were subsequently seized, brought to depots, and auctioned.
On scientific mining, Bhattacharjee emphasized the importance of safety and compliance. He outlined the approval process for mining plans under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR), which involves the Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Mines, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI), and other regulatory bodies.
“We have given environmental clearance to three scientific coal mines in Meghalaya—two in Jaintia Hills and one in West Khasi Hills. These clearances come with over 33 additional conditions to ensure adherence to safety, environmental protection, and regulatory guidelines. Monitoring will be carried out by both the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the State Pollution Control Board,” Bhattacharjee explained.
He added that the Directorate General of Mine Safety would ensure safety standards are met before mining operations commence.
Bhattacharjee also acknowledged that illegal mining in Meghalaya has significantly reduced due to interventions by the Justice Kataki Committee, high court directives, and vigilant monitoring by officials. However, he noted that sporadic incidents might still occur in remote areas due to social challenges.
To address these issues, the Meghalaya Government is prioritizing scientific mining while exploring ways to integrate small miners into the framework. Bhattacharjee noted that cooperative models could help smaller miners comply with scientific methods, thus reducing illegal mining activities.