On 11 September 2014, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) constituted
a six-member committee to facilitate systemic, scientific and planned
utilisation of mineral resources in Meghalaya to prevent environmental
degradation.
The Committee will be chaired by the cabinet secretary and
other members are Home secretary, Coal ministry secretary, Mines secretary and
Meghalaya chief secretary.
The committee was constituted on the request of Meghalaya
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
In July 2014, Mukul Sangma has taken up the matter with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and engaged a renowned Constitutional lawyer to
advise the state government on how to deal with the coal ban imposed by the
National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Why there is need to constitute this committee?
The Meghalaya government has approved the Meghalaya Mines
and Minerals Policy in 2012 but its rules are yet to come up and made
operational affecting the environment due to mining.
In April 2014, NGT has put on hold all coal mining
activities pending operationalising of a scheme to meet statutory requirement
of environment protection and safety.
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