SHILLONG, NOV 20: Cabinet Minister and UDP leader Kyrmen Shylla on Wednesday expressed optimism that the Meghalaya government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, will soon ensure the commencement of scientific mining in the state.
Speaking on the issue, Shylla said, “When it comes to coal, we have high hopes under the leadership of the chief minister. We have seen there are many steps, which are next to impossible, and they are made possible. For example the land, whatever minerals, especially coal, is not supposed to belong to individuals but under his leadership, he requested the central government and now we can claim this is my land and the minerals below it belong to me. Now, we become the owner of that coal or minerals inside which previously was not there. All these, the chief minister had tried his level best. All of us work hard together, we support each other and we have seen it is moving towards achieving it,” he said.
He further noted the importance of taking actionable steps toward implementing scientific mining.
“If not today, tomorrow we will have it. It will be legalized. For now, we expect let it be at least one or two, we start then we will get to know whether we can follow it or not. If we cannot follow these rules then we will ask the government to modify it. I believe the central government will accept it. I feel until and unless we start it how will we know we can do it or not. Just presume it cannot be done without trying it,” Shylla added.