Shillong, January 30: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday admitted that illegal mining had taken place due to the absence of a transition period before the National Green Tribunal’s complete ban on coal mining in the state but maintained that action was taken wherever violations were detected. He also announced that final approval had been granted for three designated miners to commence operations at their discretion. “We have now got the final approval to open the mines. So now, these three miners can open the mines and start the mining whenever they want. They can start tonight, they can start tomorrow—it’s up to them,” he said.
When asked whether the announcement was an election gimmick, the Chief Minister responded, “Yes, because people ask what’s happened to the coal mine, so we have to answer back. So one may call it a gimmick, but then it’s a reply—you have to give back to the people. Now, from my point of view, even yesterday, as I said, all the necessary permissions have been given, and the concerned individuals who have obtained approvals can start mining today, tomorrow, next week—anytime they want.”
He highlighted the extensive challenges in securing these approvals, acknowledging that previous governments had struggled to determine a way forward. “This entire procedure was very, very tedious and highly challenging for us. Previous governments could not decide on how to move forward. With due respect, I’m not saying they didn’t do anything, but it was a difficult decision, to be very frank. But we decided to, in a way, bite the bullet. We challenged the Supreme Court ruling, got the ban lifted, and then had to approach the Coal Ministry to create special provisions allowing local mine owners to resume operations,” Sangma explained.
He further stated that a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was developed exclusively for Meghalaya, requiring approvals from nearly 30 central and state government agencies. Each step, he said, presented new hurdles and clarifications, prolonging the process. “Now, after obtaining all necessary permissions from different agencies and departments, we received the final clearance from the Coal Ministry yesterday. The miners are now free to start—these three miners, not anyone else—only those who have received clearance can begin operations. They have submitted their mining plans, which have been vetted by central agencies and the Coal Ministry. Their methods and technologies have been approved, and now, all clearances have been given,” he added.
Asked whether this move would put a full stop to illegal coal mining, Sangma asserted that the government had been working toward exactly that. “From the government side, that’s exactly what we have been working towards. I reiterate that from the beginning, when this entire issue of coal ban took place, one actively realized—and I again repeat myself—that even when the decision was made, it should have been just, fair, and transition-based. You cannot stop a process of mining that has been going on for the last two centuries and expect people to just stop what they’ve been doing for their livelihood for the past 100 years, 200 years.”
He pointed out that the authorities responsible for the ban should have introduced a phased transition, allowing miners time to shift to regulated and legal methods. “Either you provide the miners with the necessary permissions and a legal framework to mine, or you take away their livelihood, forcing them into illegal means. Obviously, there is going to be a reaction. But as a government, since the decisions were made by different agencies, we had to be very strict and implement many provisions. Still, when thousands and lakhs of people depend on it, it takes time, and it’s difficult to just snatch away their livelihood. That’s not easy,” he stated.
Sangma reiterated that instances of illegal mining did occur as there was no transition period before the ban but emphasized that the government took action whenever violations were detected. “It was a very difficult phase. In those difficult phases, some cases of illegal mining happened, but wherever we found them, we stopped them and took action. To completely put a stop to everything is not easy because people have been doing it for 100 years. That’s why, again, I repeat, this had to be handled with care. A lot of effort was required to ensure that files were cleared, multiple meetings with central government agencies and ministries were held—it was a very tough process.”
The Chief Minister expressed optimism that legal mining would now normalize the situation. “We are hopeful that with this happening, we will now see things return to normalcy. Nobody wants to follow the illegal way—not even the miners. But earlier, they had no choice, as there were no legal provisions for them to sustain their livelihood. It was a difficult situation for them and for us as well. But now that we have reached this point, where licenses and clearances have been issued to three miners, they can start mining—provided they follow the provisions outlined in their mining plans,” he concluded.