Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday urged the Centre to delegate key powers related to coal mining approvals to the state, saying the move would enable thousands of tribal coal-holders to obtain lawful mining concessions without seeking clearances from authorities outside the state.
During a meeting in New Delhi with Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Sangma requested the Central Government to invoke Section 26 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, to empower the state to grant prior approval for coal mining leases and approve mining plans. Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla was also present at the meeting.
The chief minister said that delegating such powers would significantly ease the approval process for small tribal coal owners by allowing applications to be processed within the state.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s unique constitutional framework under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, Sangma noted that ownership of land and mineral resources rests with individuals, clans, or communities rather than the state government. He added that this position was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2019, which recognised tribal ownership while mandating compliance with mining laws.
Sangma also pointed out that coal deposits in Meghalaya differ from those in other parts of the country. He explained that the state’s coal seams are thin and scattered, with deposits spread across small family and clan holdings, making the existing national mining framework unsuitable.
The chief minister said the ban on rat-hole mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014 had severely impacted thousands of families dependent on small-scale coal mining. He added that the state has also suffered significant revenue losses due to the restrictions.
Raising concerns about the current regulatory framework, Sangma said the minimum concession area of 100 hectares prescribed under the 2021 Standard Operating Procedure has effectively prevented most genuine coal owners from obtaining leases, as such large contiguous land parcels are rarely available in the state.
He further argued that it is impractical and financially burdensome for small coal-holders to repeatedly travel to New Delhi and the Indian Bureau of Mines office in Kolkata to secure approvals for relatively small-scale operations.
Recalling that the Ministry of Coal had, in principle, agreed to Meghalaya’s request for relief in 2015, Sangma urged the Centre to issue the necessary notifications under Section 26 of the MMDR Act. He also sought delegation of related powers under the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, and the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017.
A formal representation along with a detailed note outlining the state’s position was submitted to the Union Minister during the meeting. Responding to the request, Kishan Reddy suggested constituting a committee to examine the proposal. Sangma welcomed the suggestion, and a panel is expected to be formed soon to study the matter.
Expressing optimism after the meeting, the Chief Minister said the initiative could pave the way for thousands of families in Meghalaya to secure a lawful and sustainable livelihood from their mineral resources under proper regulation and state oversight.
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